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{{Short description|Indian Hindu saint (1845-1913)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox Hindu leader
| name = Gondavalekar Maharaj
| image = Shri Brahmachaitanya Maharaj Gondavalekar.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Gondavalekar Maharaj
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
| birth_date = {{birth date|1845|02|19|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Gondavale]] Budruk, [[Satara State]], [[British India]]
| birth_name = Ganpati Raoji Ghugardare (Kulkarni)
| death_date = {{death date and age|1913|12|22|1845|02|19|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Gondavale]] Budruk, [[Satara District]], [[Bombay Presidency]], [[British India]]
| guru = [[Tukamai]]
| disciples = [[Brahmanand Maharaj|Brahmanand]], Anandsagar, Bhausaheb Ketkar, Dr. Kurtakoti, Pandurangabuva, Tatyasaheb Ketkar, Pralhad Maharaj
| philosophy = [[Bhakti Yoga]], [[Vaishnavism]]
| founder =
| sect =
| order =
| influenced =
| signature =
| signature_alt =
| footnotes =
}}
'''Brahmachaitanya''' (also popularly known as '''Gondavalekar Maharaj''') {{Pronunciation|Gondavalekar_Maharaj.wav}} (19 February 1845<ref name="K V Belsare">{{Cite book|last=K V Belsare|url=http://archive.org/details/shri-ram-the-saint-of-gondawali-the-life-and-sayings-of-shri-brahmachaitanya-k.-v.-belsare|title=Shri Ram The Saint Of Gondawali The Life And Sayings Of Shri Brahmachaitanya K. V. Belsare}}</ref> – 22 December 1913) was an Indian [[Hindu saints|Hindu saint]] and spiritual master. He was a devotee of the Hindu deity [[Rama]], and signed his name as "''Brahmachaitanya Ramdasi"''. He was a disciple of Tukamai.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.shrigondavalekarmaharaj.org/|title=(1)|last=|first=|date=|website=|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160730190006/http://shrigondavalekarmaharaj.org/|archive-date=30 July 2016|access-date=}}</ref> He advocated for [[Japa|''japa'' meditation]] through recitation of the {{IAST|Trayodaśakṣarī mantra}} ({{Langx|sa|त्रयोदशाक्षरी मंत्र|lit=13-alphabet ''mantra'' in [[Devanagari]] script}}). He promulgated ''mantra'' recitation as an effective means to attain spiritual progress and ''[[moksha]]'' (spiritual liberation).<ref name="K V Belsare" />

==Biography==

===Early life===
He was born on 19 February 1845 as Ganpati Ghugardare.<ref name="K V Belsare"/> He was born into a [[Deshastha Brahmin]] family to Raoji and Gitabai Ghugardare. His place of birth was [[Gondavale]] Budruk, a small town in present-day [[Satara District]], [[Maharashtra|Maharashtra, India]]. His parents were devotees of [[Vithoba|Vitthala]], a Hindu deity. Lingopant, his grandfather, held the title of ''[[Kulkarni]]'' or rural record-keeper of [[Gondavale]] during the [[Maratha]] regime. Kulkarni was later adopted as the family name.<ref name="K V Belsare"/>

He memorized the Hindu philosophical scripture, ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]'' at a very early age. He is believed to have attained enlightenment at a young age.<ref name=":0" />

===Initiation===
[[File:Gondavle Thorle Ram Mandir.jpg|thumb|Idols of Rama, Lakshmana and Sita at Thorale Rama Temple]]At the age of twelve, Ganpati left home in search of enlightenment. He travelled extensively, and eventually arrived at Yehalegaon, a village near present-day [[Nanded]]. There, he met Tukamai, a saint revered to be a living synthesis of the three distinct paths to self-realization: [[Jnana Yoga|''Jnana Yoga'']], [[Bhakti Yoga|''Bhakti Yoga'']], and [[Karma Yoga|''Karma Yoga'']]. He stayed under the tutelage of Tukamai for nine months. He would obediently follow the latter's instructions during this time. On one occasion of [[Rama Navami|Ram Navami]], Tukamai initiated Ganpati with the ''mantra'' "{{IAST|Śrī Rāma Jaya Rāma Jaya Jaya Rāma}} ({{Langx|sa|श्री राम जय राम जय जय राम}})",<ref name="K V Belsare" /> and bestowed upon the latter the title of "''Brahmachaitanya''."

Over the next few years, Brahmachaitanya travelled across the [[Indian subcontinent]]. He went to various regions and towns such as the [[Himalayas]], [[Ujjain]], [[Ayodhya]], [[Varanasi|Kashi]], [[Calcutta]], [[Indore]] and [[Nasik]]. During March 1866, he returned back to Gondavale and adopted a householder lifestyle.<ref name="K V Belsare"/> His first wife, Saraswati, and their son died shortly afterward. Later, he married a daughter of the ''Deshpande'' or district record-keeper of Atpadi. His second wife was blind since birth. She later came to be known as Aaisaheb. He also embarked on a pilgrimage along with his mother, Gitabai, to Kashi and Ayodhya. Gitabai probably died in Ayodhya.

===Return to Gondavale and death===
During later years, Brahmachaitanya continued to expound spiritual methods revolving around devotion to the deity Rama. He also had a Rama temple built as an extension to his residence.<ref name="K V Belsare"/>
[[File:Thorle Ram Mandir temple in Gondavale.jpg|thumb|Temple of Rama at Gondavale]]
With time, the number of his disciples and followers soared. To cater to these increasing numbers, he arranged for the construction of Rama, [[Dattatreya]], and [[Shani]] temples along with accommodation facilities at Gondavale. He also had Rama temples built in other rural regions of present-day [[Maharashtra]].

He died on 22 December 1913, at Gondavale.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Shri Brahma Chaitanya Gondavalekar Maharaj. |url=https://shrigondavalekarmaharaj.org/maharaj/home.html |access-date=4 August 2021}}</ref>

==Philosophy==
He was a proponent of Bhakti Yoga. His teachings were aligned to those of [[Samarth Ramdas]], his spiritual predecessor. The ''Rama-nama'' ''mantra'', originally attributed to Ramdas, was promoted by Brahmachaitanya as a means of spiritual evolution. The ''mantra'' was central to his teachings.<ref name="Larios2017">{{cite book|author=Borayin Larios|title=Embodying the Vedas: Traditional Vedic Schools of Contemporary Maharashtra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tNwtDwAAQBAJ&pg=PR5|date=10 April 2017|publisher=De Gruyter|isbn=978-3-11-051732-3|pages=198–199}}</ref> According to S. G. Tulpule, Brahmachaitanya, like earlier [[Vaishnavism|Vaishanavite]] saints such as [[Mirabai]], Ramdas, [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu]] and [[Tulsidas]], was a well-known preacher and practitioner of ''mantra'' recitation.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Laddu |first1=S. D. |title=Review of THE DIVINE NAME IN THE INDIAN TRADITION (A Comparative Study) |journal=Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute |date=1993 |volume=74 |issue=1/4 |pages=335–338 |jstor=43977237 }}</ref>

He frequently used ''[[pravachan]]'' or spiritual discourses and ''[[bhajan]]'' or devotional hymns to encourage people along the path of devotion. He endorsed cow protection and food donation. He is an important 19th-century religious figure behind the revival of [[Vedic ritualism]] in the Indian state of Maharashtra.<ref name="Larios2017" />

==Teachings==
He advised<ref name="K V Belsare"/> his adherents to rigorously follow spiritual practices to attain self-realization. According to him, there are two proven ways to ''moksha'' or liberation for people active in materialistic pursuits. These are ''satsangati'' ({{Langx|sa|सत्संगती }}) or company of saints and ''naam'' ({{Langx|sa|नाम}}) or name of deity. Most of his teachings emphasized on the recitation of ''naam japa''. He advocated for round-the-clock remembrance of the divine through ''naam japa'' as a means to happiness, contentment and peace.

His teachings are summarized in his ''subodh''<ref name=":2">{{Citation|last=Gondavle|title=Bramhachaitanya - Subodh|url=http://archive.org/details/subodh-gondavle|access-date=2021-07-19}} Published by Anmol Prakashan, Pune</ref> ({{Langx|sa|सुबोध}}) or set of clear instructions.

Teachings stated in the ''subodh'' are listed as follows:<ref name=":2" />

* Keep chanting the deity's name and communicate the significance of chanting to everyone you meet.
* ''Naam'' alone is the ultimate truth.
* ''Naam'' is the means and the end.
* Stay involved in ''mantra'' chanting even when active in worldly pursuits.
* Be happy and stay away from laziness, fear and hate.
* Always be mindful of the divine presence in life.
* Be polite and nice to people and stay fully devoted to Rama.
* Maintain purity in thought and action and refrain from hypocrisy.
* Consider Rama as your friend, guide and master and surrender to him wholeheartedly.
* Give your 100% to everything you do and leave the results of your effort to Rama, thereby surrendering your ego entirely.
* Control your desires and be righteous in your behavior.
* Rama is the giver of happiness, and one should consider performing worldly duties as a way to serve Him.
* Sing and chant His name and always be content and at peace even if you lose all your worldly belongings.
* Pride is the greatest enemy of a seeker, be alert and do not give in to your ego.
* Rama resides in our hearts. He is the epitome of love and yearns for love from all his devotees.

His daily discourses have been compiled into a book called ''Pravachane''.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|last=Belsare|first=Keshav Vishnu|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TsMnAQAAIAAJ|title=Shri Ram, the Saint of Goldawali; Or The Life and Sayings of Shri Brahma Chaitanya|date=1961|publisher=Y.G. Joshi|language=en}}</ref>

==Noted disciples and followers==
===Keshav Belsare===
Keshav Belsare, also affectionately known as "Baba" (father), was born into a middle-class family in Hyderabad on 8 February 1909. He had learnt texts such as the ''Bhagavad Gita'', ''Dasbodh'' and ''[[Dnyaneshwari]]'', at an early age. He is claimed to have memorized all of the 700 ''shlokas'' of the ''Bhagavad Gita'' within a single week. He started out as a teacher of English at Balmohan Vidyalaya in [[Dadar]], and later became a professor of philosophy at Siddhartha College in [[Mumbai]]. His lectures were immensely popular in college, and students from multiple disciplines would enrol for his classes. He was known to possess extraordinary clarity and an ability to teach complex subjects in an easy-to-understand manner. He was initiated in 1931. Over time, he became a prominent propagator of Brahmachaitanya's teachings. He actively engaged in promoting these teachings for more than 60 years. He would often conduct discourses on topics ranging from meditation to literary works such as ''Dnyaneshwari'' and ''Dasbodh''. He authored more than 50 books in Marathi. His notable works include the biography of Brahmachaitanya, ''Upanishdacha Abhyas'' and ''Bhavarthgatha''.<ref name=UPADHYE1976>{{cite journal |last1=UPADHYE |first1=P.M. |title=Saint Literature in Marathi |journal=Indian Literature |date=1976 |volume=19 |issue=5 |pages=49–62 |jstor=24157340 }}</ref>

===Dattatreya Bendre===
[[D.R. Bendre|Dattatreya Bendre]] (31 January 1896 – 26 October 1981) was a [[Kannada]] poet and recipient of the [[Jnanpith Award]]. He revered Brahmachaitanya and believed the latter to have bestowed upon him "the gift of poetry".<ref name="Amur1994">{{cite book|author=G. S. Amur|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QaSWBH68NQYC&pg=PA7|title=Dattatreya Ramachandra Bendre (Ambikatanayadatta)|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|year=1994|isbn=978-81-7201-515-2|pages=8–9}}</ref>

==Worship==
[[File:Entrance of Samadhi Mandir of Brahma Chaitanya Gondavlekar Maharaj at Gondavle.jpg|thumb|Entrance to the ''Samadhi Mandir'' dedicated to Brahmachaitanya at Gondavle]]

===Temples===
[[File:Samadhi Mandir of Gondavlekar Maharaj.jpg|alt=गोंदवलेकर महाराज यांच्या समाधी मंदिराचे मुख्य द्वार|thumb|''Samadhi Mandir'', Gondavle]]
Brahmachaitanya and his adherants built and consecrated many temples around India. There are temples dedicated to him in Maharashtra, as well as in [[Bangalore]] (Srinivasanagar), and Hebbali in [[Dharwad district|Dharwad District]]. ''Ram-naam japa'' rituals are held on a daily basis at these temples.

The temples are listed as follows:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|
|'''Temple'''
|'''Location'''
|'''Year of Construction'''
|-
|1
|Dhakate Rama Mandir
|[[Gondavale]]
|1895
|-
|2
|Datta Mandira, Aatapaadi
|Aatapaadi
|1892
|-
|3
|Thorale Rama Mandir<ref name="K V Belsare" />
|Gondavale
|1892
|-
|4
|Vitthala Mandir
|Gondavale
|
|-
|5
|Rama Mandir
|Beladadhi
|1896
|-
|6
|Ananda Rama Mandir
|Jalna, [[Anandavadi]]
|1896
|-
|7
|Tilwankar Rama Mandir
|Varanasi
|1897/98
|-
|8
|Pattabhi Rama Mandir
|[[Harda]]
|1900
|-
|9
|Rajaadhiraja Rama Mandir
|Mandave
|1901
|-
|10
|Rama Mandir
|Giravi
|1901
|-
|11
|Rama Mandir
|Sorati, Ujjain
|1901
|-
|12
|Rama Mandir
|Yavagal
|1901
|-
|13
|Datta Mandira
|Yavagal
|1901
|-
|14
|Rama Mandir
|Kagavada
|1902
|-
|15
|Rama Mandir
|Gomewadi
|1903
|-
|16
|Rama Mandir
|Mhasoorne
|1903
|-
|17
|Rama Mandir
|Vita
|1903
|-
|18
|Rama Mandir
|Manjarde
|1905/6
|-
|19
|Bhadagavkar Rama Mandir
|Pandharpur
|1908
|-
|20
|Janaki Jeevana Rama Mandir
|Morgiri
|1908
|-
|21
|Datta Mandira
|Satara
|1908
|-
|22
|Vitho Anna Daphthardar Rama Murthi
|Patna
|1909
|-
|23
|Javalgekar Rama Mandir
|Solapur
|1909
|-
|24
|chidambara nayakara Rama Mandira
|Hubli
|1909
|-
|25
|Kurthakoti Rama Mandir
|Kurthakoti
|1909
|-
|26
|Atapadi Rama Mandir
|Atapadi
|1909
|-
|27
|Vitthala Mandir
|Khathavala
|1909
|-
|28
|Vitthala Mandir
|Uksaan
|1909
|-
|29
|Vitthala Mandir
|Naragunda
|1909
|-
|30
|Venkatesha Mandir
|Venkatapura
|1909
|-
|31
|Venugopala Mandir
|Bidarahall
|1909
|-
|32
|Hanuman Mandir
|Kaagavaada
|1909
|-
|33
|Rama Mandir
|Kannhad
|1911
|-
|34
|Datta Mandira
|Gondavale
|1911
|-
|35
|Shani Mandir
|Gondavale
|1911
|-
|36
|Kuravali Rama Mandir.
|Siddeshwara
|1913
|-
|37
|Dahiwadi Rama Mandir
|Dahiwadi, [[Maharashtra]]
|1912
|-
|38
|Haradasi Rama Mandir
|[[Sangli]]
|1912/13
|-
|39
|Kukkadavada Rama Mandir
|[[Chintamani, Karnataka|Chintamani]], [[Karnataka]]
|1912/13
|-
|40
|Likthe Rama Mandir
|[[Pune]]
|1914
|-
|41
|Kherdi Rama Mandir
|Chiplun, [[Maharashtra]]
|1914
|-
|42
|Ashwathapur Rama Mandir
|Badagumijaru, Karnataka
|1915
|-
|43
|Emmikeri Rama Mandir
|[[Dharwad]]
|1915/17
|-
|44
|Line Bazar Rama Mandir
|Dharwad
|1915/17
|-
|45
|Sri Vishwanatha Seetha Rama chandra Mandira
|[[Gajendragad|Gajendraghada]]
|1916
|-
|46
|Kanchisamudram Rama Mandir
|Kanchisamudram, [[Andhra Pradesh]]
|1923
|-
|47
|Sri Shendurani Ghat Rama Mandir
|
|1923
|-
|48
|Sri Shendurani Ghat Rama Mandir
|Kurundavada
|1929
|-
|49
|Rama Mandir
|[[Vidurashwatha|Viduraashwatha]]
|1930
|-
|50
|Rama Mandira
|[[Indore]]
|1931
|-
|51
|Brahmachaithanya Rama Mandira
|Mandaleshwara
|1932
|-
|52
|Rama Mandira
|Gowdigalli, [[Hubli|Hubbali]]
|1945
|-
|53
|Sri Brahmachaithanya sri Rama Mandira
|[[Chintamani, Karnataka|Chintamani]], Karnataka
|1949
|-
|54
|Rama Mandira
|Kudoor, Karnataka
|1969
|-
|55
|Shri Brahmachaithanya Ashrama & Rama Mandira
|Parvathi Payaatha
|1976
|-
|56
|Rama Mandira
|Hadonahalli
|1983
|-
|57
|Sri Rama Mandira
|Samartha Kuti Bedi, Udavah
|1994
|-
|58
|Rama Mandira
|Vudagyav, [[Pune]]
|1995
|-
|59
|Rama Mandira
|Maardi
|1997
|-
|60
|Maharaja's Paduka Mandirs
|
|
|-
|61
|Maharaja's Paduka Mandirs
|[[Kolhapur]]
|1920
|-
|62
|Rendaalkar Paduka Mandir
|Kolhapur
|1920
|-
|63
|Brahmachaithanya Mutt
|Malad
|1929
|-
|64
|Brahmachaithanya Mutt & Hanuman Mandir
|[[Mandsaur]]
|1947
|-
|65
|Sri Brahmachaithanya Mandir
|[[Bangalore]]
|1972
|-
|66
|Paaduka Mandir
|[[Londa, Karnataka|Londa]]
|1982
|-
|67
|Paaduka Mandir
|[[Hebballi, Dharwad|Hebballi]]
|1984
|-
|68
|Paaduka Mandir
|Halenagara, [[Bhadravati, Karnataka|Bhadravathi]]
|1988
|-
|69
|Gondavale Dhaam
|[[Indore]]
70 Sree Vittala Chaithanya Mandira, [[Chamundipuram, Mysuru, Karnataka]]
|
|}

==In literature==
*''Sri Brahmachaitanya Gondavalekar Maharaj'' – biography by K.V. Belsare<ref name=UPADHYE1976/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.brahmachaitanya.org/sri-brahmachaitanya-grid Pravachane of Shree Maharaj] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115231021/http://www.brahmachaitanya.org/sri-brahmachaitanya-grid |date=15 January 2015 }}
* [http://www.shrigondavalekarmaharaj.org Official website of Gondavalekar Maharaj]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maharaj, Gondavalekar}}
[[Category:1845 births]]
[[Category:1913 deaths]]
[[Category:19th-century Hindu religious leaders]]
[[Category:20th-century Hindu religious leaders]]
[[Category:Bhakti movement]]
[[Category:Marathi Hindu saints]]
[[Category:Meditation]]
[[Category:People from Satara district]]
[[Category:Rama]]
[[Category:Sant Mat]]
[[Category:Vedanta]]

Gondavalekar Maharaj - Revision history

KristineCharlton: started basic pg first draft