Gajanan Maharaj (Shegaon ) and Lord Ganesha relationship

The origin of Sant Gajanan Maharaj of Shegaon is untraceable. He first appeared on 23 February 1878 according to the official biography released by Shegaon sansthan which is written in mellifluous language comprising 3668 ovis or stanzas by H B P Das Ganu Maharaj . The original name of ( Hari-Bhakta-Parayan) Das Ganu was Ganesh Dattatreya Sahasrabuddhe who spent considerable time with Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi. He passed away on Ekadashi day on 23 October 1962 at the age of 95 years. This biography was written in Shegaon in 21 days with the help of papers made available by Shri Ratansa Kachrusa Sonone (Bhavsar) who was employed as Diwanji with the Gajanan maharaj sansthan for several years. The ovis /stanzas were composed by Das Ganu maharaj in the presence of few people and it used be penned by a small 12 year old boy named Chaggan Bartakke. Ukirda Gan gane also assisted briefly in writing. This biography on Sant Gajanan maharaj is entitled Gajanan Vijay and this biography is translated from the original marathi script into English, Hindi, Gujarati, Telugu and Kannada languages. It is recorded that several devotees get their unfulfilled desires fulfilled when the complete the reading of this biography by putting full faith at the feet of the saint who is considered as an incarnation of Lord Ganesha. The cost of the biography is nominal Rs 35.There are several books and biographies on Mahraj - notable being those penned by T R Nagalkar, R G Nimonkar, B D Kher, Suman Badhu and some others. Recently , Shri Bhargav Yeodekar alias Shri Das Bhargav, an employee of the Sant Gajanan maharaj engg collegestores department, has compiled a painstaking volume entitled " Charitra Kosh" ( Life sketch volume) which is sold by the Sansthan for a nominal price of Rs 135.

Shree Gajanan maharaj attained Mahasamadhi on 8th September 1910 . He had indicate to the place where HE would be 'resting' after giving up HIS mortal body. He did not 'die' in the common sense of the term. It was a Yogic sanjeevani samadhi - maharaj chose the day after Ganesha Chaturthi to end HIS 'avataar karya' ( His spiritual mission as incarnation of the Almighty )- known as Rishi panchami . On 8th Sep 1910 , at 8 am , HE sat in yogic posture , closed HIS eyes , and with Yogic powers controlled his life breath by taking it into his head and uttering the words " Jay Gajanan ". It is recorded in the biography that Gajanan Maharaj was fond of 'durvas' ( grass blades) , 'modaks' ( a sweet with coconut filling ) which is offered as Naivedya ( holy offering of food) to Lord Ganesha. He chose this day because Ganesha is immersed on the following day of Bhadrapad Chaturthi and the human body should also be 'immersed' in samadhi accordingly. Thousands of devotees came from far and near to witness the samadhi being created on that day. A lump of butter which was placed on maharaj's head by Govind Shastri of Dongaon, ,6 hours after HE left HIS body, continued to melt vigorously , indicating that Maharaj's body was warm inspite of having "passed away" . Years later after Gajanan Maharaj gave up HIS body , the Chairperson of Shegaon sansthan and an ardent devotee of Maharaj, Shri Hari Kukaji Patil could not resist his desire to have a glance at the body of maharaj in samadhi. He got the slab opened and he could see that the flowers and tulsi leaves which placed on the head of maharaj in samadhi were as fresh as they were several years ago . This miracle amply proves that Gajanan maharaj was a messenger of God or God incarnate Himself.

Maharaj hardly spoke, and when He did, He used to talk cryptic and most people would not understand what He meant or spoke. Later people would connect what He said with the events that would happen and understand the significance of His utterances. People who have seen Maharaj have recorded that like Sai baba of Shirdi , He too was tall ( 6 feet or more) with hands long enough and reaching His limbs. HE used to smoke the earthen pipe ( chillum) and the popular pose is that with Chillum in hand.

Ramchandra Govind Nimonkar, whose descendants now live in New Bank colony in Ratlam (MP), has the red stone in their home in Pooja ghar. This was given by Gajanan Maharaj when Nimonkar pleaded for directions and guidance to complete his practice and knowledge of yoga Shastra. Maharaj also gave him a 16 lettered mantra and asked him to practise yoga asanas before this red stone . Maharaj had just picked up the stone from the stream below , and when pestered by Nimonkar hurled the stone at him . The stone is natural bright red and when asked by Nimonkar to reveal his identity , Gajanan maharaj said " Did I not give you the red stone ? The Ganapati from Narmada is always Red, worship HIM always. I am Gajanan from Shegaon , come follow me ".