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Last edited September 28, 2025


Nana Maharaj Taranekar (Chaitanyananda Saraswati)
Nana Maharaj Taranekar (Chaitanyananda Saraswati)
Taranekar in 2014
Personal
Born
Martand Shankar Taranekar

(1896-08-13)13 August 1896
Tarana, India
Died16 April 1993(1993-04-16) (aged 96)
Nagpur, India
ReligionHinduism
SectDatta Sampradaya
Religious career
GuruVasudevanand Saraswati

Shri Nana Maharaj Taranekar, (born Martand Shankar Taranekar; 13 August 1896 – 16 April 1993) is considered to be a prominent saint within the Datta Sampradaya sect of Hinduism during the twentieth century (in the Gurucharita tradition of Dattatreya). He is regarded as the sixteenth incarnation of lord Dattatreya. Shri Nana was the direct disciple of Shri Vasudevanand Saraswati Swami Maharaj (also known as Tembe Swami).[1]

Early life[edit | edit source]

Shri Nana Maharaj was born on 13 August 1896 in the village of Tarana (District-Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh). His father was Shri Shankar Shastry and his mother Lakshmi Bai. He had an inclination towards devotion and Namasmaran (chanting of the holy name of God) since his childhood. Nana received a blessing from his Guru Shri Vasudevanand Saraswati Swami Maharaj at age 11.[2] He served as a priest of Datta Mandir Tarana (District-Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh) and after his father's death, he became the Dharmadhikari (Hindu religious leader) for the town of Tarana. Nana conducted many Yajna rituals such as Vishnu Yag, Datta Yag, and Ganesh Yag. He spent his whole life preaching and extolling the importance of Namasmaran.[3]

Work[edit | edit source]

Nana Maharaj was well known as great saint in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat. He guided his devotees in the advancement of their spiritual as well as material lives. He was the founder of Akhil Bhartiya Tripadi Parivar, which is seen as his group of followers.

Sayings[edit | edit source]

  • Be disciplined, train, and gain control over your six senses.
  • To see and feel your Sadguru in everything is Yoga.
  • Good things are acquired through seeing, reading, or listening; you should accept and learn from every source you can.
  • Where I am remembered, there shall I be.

Prominent places of residence[edit | edit source]

Indore, Madhya Pradesh[edit | edit source]

This is the karma bhoomi of Nana Maharaj. Devotees gather every year at Pa.Pu. Nana Maharaj Taranekar Sansthan, Indore, on the occasion of Nana Maharaj Punyatithi (Chaitra Krishna 10), Guru Poornima, Nana Maharaj Jayanti (Nagpanchami, Shravan Shukla 5), and Dattatreya Jayanti.

Nagpur, Maharashtra[edit | edit source]

Maharaj died at Chaitanya Peeth, Nagpur on 16 April 1993. This is the Mahanirvan place of Pa.Pu. Satguru Shri Nana Maharaj Taranekar.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. "Shishya".
  2. "Contribution of Nana Maharaj to Dhutt sect". saamana.com. 29 January 2017. Archived from the original on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  3. Paage, Dr. Vijay (December 2007). Shree Martand Mahima. Indore: Creative Publishers and Distributor.