Monday, December 31, 2012
Shankar Maharaj of Pune
Introduction
Shree Sadguru Shankar Maharaj is one of the greatest saints in India,endowed with divine powers and is worshipped as God Shiva incarnated in human form. Shree Shankar Maharaj was an Ashtavakra and Ajanubahu saint. His lifespan comprised of 161 years.
Shree Shankar Maharaj appeared in the form of a small baby in the dense forest of Saint Dawal Mallik ’s mountain at Antapur to a poor childless devotee of Lord Shiva named Mr. Narayan Antapurkar alias Chimnaji. He gifted Chimnaji couple with two children and left the house for the welfare of the Universe and to spread the message of love and peace.
Shree Shankar Maharaj looked on all with an equal eye. He was beyond distinctions of religion, wealth and caste or creed. He embodied all religions and preached the Universal religion of Love and Peace. Maharaj had spent all His life in caring and helping the poor and feeble in society. He never had the feeling of superiority though He was brought up in a Brahmin family. He loved to stay in the company of people who lived in poverty and pain, instead of wasting His time with rich people. He communicated with the people in different languages as he spoke all the languages of the World.
Shree Shankar Maharaj stated His mission of peace and harmony and He proved this by saving lives, healing illness, averting accidents, gifting 'Bramhadnyan', giving divine glimpses of various Gods to His devotees, facilitating financial gain, teaching people the importance of ‘Bhagwad Geeta’ , ‘Dnyaneshwari’ , ‘Dasbodh’ , ‘Eknathi Bhagwath’ , ‘Gurucharitra’ & ‘Guruleelamrut’ , bringing people into harmony within themselves and with each other and, above all, in effecting the spiritual evolution and transformation of those who came to him as the last resort. He was a master in Yoga and music.
Knowledge of self and all the divine spiritual powers were the greatest qualities of Shree Shankar Maharaj. His favorite pastime was to find solutions on various problems of His devotees and for that He performed miracles. He created miracles only to show His devotees the right path to the Almighty God. Maharaj didn’t build any house, shelter or ashram for Him. He never stayed at one place for long period. Shree Shankar Maharaj did not have any temptation for money or wealth. A saint like Him had never happened on this Earth in decades.
Shree Shankar Maharaj had a unique personality. If a person questioned Him in English, He replied with fluency in English. If a Muslim questioned Him in Urdu, he answered the person with the teaching from 'Quran'. Maharaj never attended any school or college, but still He had immense knowledge of every language spoken all over the World. It was a puzzle which always remained unsolved. Maharaj knew the truth beyond the rising of all the languages of the world. He knew the languages of all the animals, birds and people throughout the World. He knew the basics of every language of the World and so He could easily communicate in all the languages.
Shree Shankar Maharaj always recited glory of His great Guru’s glory to His devotees. He frequently visited Shree Sadguru Swami Samarth's Samadhi temple with the intense feeling of a child meeting his mother with heart full of love and affection. He spent hours sitting under the Vatavruksha (i.e. an old oak tree) at Akkalkot. Maharaj spent sleepless nights in the Vatavruksha temple to meet His Guru Shree Sadguru Swami Samarth.
Today the number of devotees visiting Dhankavdi's Samadhi temple has increased to a very large extent to pay their homage to the Divine Supreme power and to feel and experience His existence even after His Samadhi. Shree Shankar Maharaj is the embodiment of the Supreme Spirit lighting the devotee’s path by His every word and action. To His devotees, Yogiraj Shree Sadguru Shankar Maharaj is Almighty GOD. This has been a matter of experience and not imaginary.
Origin
In a small remote village of Antapur in Satana district near Nashik ( Maharashtra - India ). There lived a Brahmin, Mr.Narayan (Chimanaji) Antapurkar and his wife who worshipped Lord Shiva wholeheartedly. They always recited Japas (i.e. ceaseless reiteration) of “Om Namah Shivay” day and night. The whole house was blessed by the ‘Japas’. But the couples lived in poverty and grief and were childless. They kept fast on every Mondays and celebrated ‘Mahashivaratri’. The pooja of ‘Laghu Rudra’ was their daily schedule. Their faith on Lord Shiva was immense. They were sure that one day their poverty would come to an end and would be blessed with a child.
As days passed their need for child and money increased. They were tired of pleading in the court of God. But as nights are followed by days, fall is followed by rise, and sorrow is followed by happiness. Mr.Chimanaji also experienced a same twist in his life. It was around A.D. 1785, in the early morning hours of Kartik Shuddha Ashthami (8th lunar day from New Moon day of Kartik month according to Hindu calendar), Antapurkar couple experienced a divine enlightenment. The couple was reciting the Japas of Lord Shiva. The whole village was in a deep sleep. The couple also went to sleep.
Suddenly, the couple woke up and the scene they saw was unbelievable. There was an ascetic with a divine shine on his face and a sparkle in his eyes. His fragrance and brightness illuminated the whole house. The couples got afraid at first sight and were speechless. But they soon realized that the person standing in front of them was a heavenly ascetic. The couple paid homage and bowed down at His feet. The ascetic blessed them and said, “From today the grief of being childless will be erased from your hearts. The ruler of Kailas Lord Shiva has taken birth in your village to bring happiness in your life. Lord Shiva is waiting for you in the form of a small child on Saint Dawal Mallik’s mountain. So go and get the heavenly child to your house, who has taken birth for the welfare of the World. The arrival of the child in your life is a gift from me for the love and worship done by you. From tomorrow experience the sweet company of the divine child”. Saying the ascetic disappeared in the darkness of the night. The couple realized that the ascetic was none other than God Shiva himself.
Mr.Chimanaji and his wife hurried towards the dense forest of Saint Dawal Mallik’s mountain with eyes filled with tears of happiness. They made their way through bushes, thorns and stones in the darkness. Their search continued all night and the next morning they saw a newly born baby boy beneath a tree smiling sweetly lying on the ground. But the couple was shocked to see the baby surrounded by tigers and a huge snake standing over His head, as if they were guarding the baby. They got scared and hesitated to move forward. But they were overwhelmed to see the baby stretching out his hands as if he was waiting for the couple and calling them. They overcame their fear and stepped forward to the baby and picked it up. Their wish of having a baby was fulfilled. Mr. Chimanaji’s wife cuddled the divine baby with great love. Her thirst of being a mother was satisfied and the stigma of being childless was washed off. And, what a miracle!! Milk started oozing out from her breasts. The couple was satisfied with happiness. The baby brought happiness in their lives. To keep the memory of God Shiva they named the boy, ‘Shankar’ (which is a name of God Shiva). The couple brought up child 'Shankar' with great care and affection.
The couple was engrossed in the child Shankar’s pastime. They always tried to fathom His divine power. They were experiencing miracles happening in their house. Little Shankar grew up and His activities were outstanding, like swimming in deep water, playing with tigers in the forest, catching live snakes and bringing them home, producing sweets from His fist and giving it to small children, playing with birds and making them sit on His shoulders, visiting festivals and getting engrossed in Bhajans (i.e. hymns), predicting anyone's future which by due course of time turned true, etc. He had a great knowledge of philosophical and spiritual matters.
Little Shankar felt the four walls of the house were very small and were worried about the Universe. So He decided to leave the house. The couple was unhappy on His decision. He knew that the old couple was in need of a child for support in their old age, so He decided to free them from their worries and blessed them with two children.
Without getting involved in any kind of emotions little Shankar paid homage to the couple and took their blessings. He then left the house in search of the real truth of the universe which is none other than ‘God’. The emotions of the people of Antapur did not put barriers for little Shankar. He cut the bonds of the village and started His journey to the great Himalayas.
Personality
Shree Sadguru Shankar Maharaj was short in height. He was an ‘Ashtavakra’ (i.e. bend at eight places) and was Ajanubahu (i.e. long hands up to the knees). But His body was full of enthusiasm. He had difficulty in walking, so people carried Him on their back. But when He wished to walk, He left others behind. Mostly He wore white dhoti and white shirt. Maharaj had an overgrown beard and hair. He had a moustache and huge sharp eyes. At first sight His appearance was like a small child but His divine face reflected His spiritual knowledge and powers. At times He lived in palace like a rich man; wearing a gold necklace around His neck, a watch on His wrist and gold rings in His fingers. While at times, He stayed with poor innocent devotees and gave away everything to them and wandered as a poor ascetic. He was a Yogi full of knowledge and His qualities of being a great saint reflected in His life style. Maharaj used to change His identity by changing His lifestyle, behavior, physique and also His face. Maharaj changed His face and personality very often and did not give any clues of His life to anybody.
At first sight Shree Shankar Maharaj’s behaved like a small child to confuse people to consider Him as mad. So that He can easily avoid unwanted people from coming near. The look of innocence on His face, different kind of expressions in His huge eyes and His divine luminous body were some of His distinct features. He always presented Himself as illiterate,but when He spoke on any topic, people listened with astonishment.
Shree Shankar Maharaj had a unique personality. If a person questioned Maharaj in English, He replied in fluent English. If a Muslim asks anything in Urdu, he gave the answer with the teaching from 'Quran'. Maharaj had never attended any school or college, but still He had the great knowledge of every languages of the World. This was a puzzle which is unsolved. Maharaj knew the truth which was beyond the rising of all the languages of the world. He knew the languages of all the animals, birds and people of the World.
Mr.Bhalchandra Deo, professor of Pune’s Deccan College,was always curious about Shree Shankar Maharaj’s physique. At times He was an old man and at times a strong youth. While at times handicapped or at times an athlete. So he asked Maharaj while having a chat, “Maharaj! What is your age?” Maharaj sensed his curiosity and replied, “My age is 150 years. I had taken monetary gift and food with the second Peshwa at Shaniwar Wada in Pune”. Maharaj gave this answer about His age in the year 1935. Dr.Ghaneshwar had doubt about Maharaj’s age, so he performed all the medical tests required to diagnose Maharaj's age. On seeing the reports Dr. Ghaneshwar declared that Maharaj’s age was truly of 150 years. All the devotees knew that Maharaj never lied in His whole life, so He had never boasted about His age. Maharaj took His Samadhi in the year 1947. So it’s clear that Maharaj had lived a life of 161 years. Shree Shankar Maharaj could change His form,look and body within a fraction of a second.
Shree Shankar Maharaj recited stories about His previous birth. He once said, “I lived in Raver village in Khandesh as ‘Kuvarswami’ for some days. Then I stayed as ‘Gaurishankar’ in Waghod and My Samadhi is in Waghod”. Shree Shankar Maharaj was a saint having various facets of life,full of knowledge and a saga of love and pity for other in His heart.
The great magician Raghuvir from Pune has quoted a weird fact in his book, ‘Me Pahilela Russia’ in Marathi language. The incident says, ''He met a man named ‘Shankar’ in the city of Moscow who speaks Hindi language. The man wanders on the streets of Moscow wearing just a simple coat in heavy snowfall and in winter season. People wear many coats one over the other to keep them warm in winter season. But this man surprised everyone by roaming on the streets in His simple outfits. The city of Moscow knows Him are aware of His supernatural power". Magician Raghuvir very well knows that the man in Moscow was none other than Yogiraj Shree Sadguru Shankar Maharaj.
Shree Shankar Maharaj was known at various places by different names like, ‘Supadya Baba in Satpuda, Deviya Baba in Gujarat, Rahimbaba by Islamis, Kuvarswami in Khandesh (Raver), Gaurishankar in Waghod, Saint Tobo in Africa, Noor Mohammad Khan alias Noori Chacha in Arabian countries, Lahari Baba in Central part of India, Gurudev in South India and Mr.John in Japan and England. In Japan , there are many followers of Shree Shankar Maharaj. The proprietor of Sanjeevani Medicine Company, Mr.Paranjpe had a portrait of Shree Shankar Maharaj in his house drawn by a Japanese painter. Maharaj’s Trishul (i.e. a three pointed spear) is kept in the village of Mahalgunj in Gwalior.
Yogiraj Shree Sadguru Shankar Maharaj portrayed various personalities by His mysterious life style and behavior. Though He wandered in various personalities by various names, His message of love and peace to God and human community remained the same.
Mission and Advice
Shree Shankar Maharaj was an idol of great Indian culture. He disliked people who followed the spiritual path by neglecting their domestic life and their family. He believed that one should first accept his family with all the responsibilities and then only follow the divine spiritual path. Maharaj was a great ‘Awaliya’ who always rushed to save His devotees. Maharaj was against spells and charms. Though He was aware of all the spells and charms, He never used them. He hated people who followed the path of spells or charms and if He comes across such people, He taught them appropriate lessons. He even thrashed an eve teaser with a hunter. He eliminated stubborn people. He also kept such people away from Him. Maharaj bore all the spirits of the universe, but He never used them. Only if He felt it necessary, He used His spirits to bless His devotees. He created miracles only to save His devotees life or solve their problems. Maharaj loved the teachings of the great religious holy book ‘Bhagwad Gita’. He enjoyed the recitation of the holy book in the bungalow of Barrister Raosaheb Mehendale.
Shree Shankar Maharaj always said, “Drink water after filtering and make Guru after checking his knowledge”.
Shree Shankar Maharaj always celebrated festivals of incarnations and death anniversaries of great saints and ascetics and conducted recitation of holy books and sang hymns. Maharaj spoke little but performed many acts. Maharaj’s only aim in life was to save His devotees from their problems and show them the right spiritual path to the Almighty God. He always danced and got engrossed in hymns. Maharaj was a great enlightened ascetic on the spiritual path. Today many devotees are inspired by the instructions and good deeds of Shree Shankar Maharaj.
Shree Shankar Maharaj addressed His devotees, “To taste the sweet fruit of spiritual path, you should always worship real ascetics or saints without having any greed in mind. While following the spiritual path an individual acquires false spirits in the initial mental stage. And on the acquired false spirits he performs unusual acts. Innocent people gather around such individuals and the individual turns in to hypocritical ascetic or saint. These individuals are always aloof from real spiritual paths.
A human being’s real grace is in his good deeds and so you should always be away from six passions of life to keep your body as well as mind pure because you cannot clean or wash your mind with any soap. Therefore good deeds are very essential to keep your impact on the society. You should always be honest to yourself, to your God and to the people. With honesty you can acquire peace and satisfaction in life. Self control gives you wealth and if you lose that you would become a devil. You should always take great care of your parents. You should never forget your guardian Goddess and should always worship Her because She is your mother. Always help others in grief and never give them pain. Always be in good company because it helps us to get ride of bad deeds. You should always do your duty with care and concentration. Always read biographies of real ascetics and saints and recite divine spiritual books. Never praise your good deeds yourself. Always keep a satisfied mind and soul. Humanity and good deeds to others is the real human religion. Help the poor by giving them food, clothes and shelter. Don’t get involved in customs of castes and creeds.
Always recite the name of your Guru, with heart and soul. By the faith in your Guru, you can acquire everything in life and can also find God within you. Look upon poor people living in grief, having no appropriate clothes or shelter. Then only you will understand that our God has given us so much happiness in life. Our God has surely given us more than the people who are handicapped, blind, deaf or dumb.
Every human is born with grief and pain and is trapped in the circles of happiness and grief. If you want to lead a happy life, then you should sacrifice your greed and keep faith in your Guru. He is the one who will take you away from the storm of your problems. Pride should be away from your practical life and spiritual path. Be satisfied with what our God has given us. Never run after wealth, it will give you only grief. So ask only according to your requirement to your God. Never lie because you will increase your responsibility. So avoid it by saying only the truth. Don’t cheat or abuse anyone. Don’t increase your needs more than your income and lead your life in misery fulfilling these unwanted needs. Always take part in incarnations and death anniversaries celebrations of real ascetics and saints. Always read religious holy books like ‘Dnyaneshwari’ , ‘Dasbodh’ & ‘Bhagwad Gita’.
If you take one step towards me, I would surely come running ten steps towards you. I would stand by your side and protect you from all the dangers. I would also give you the happiness of remarkable deep devotion which will make your life sacred and full of enthusiasm. My calculations are distinct from rest of the world and no one can trace it by his intellectual. If you ask me for something which is impossible with faith, I will surely fulfill your wish. So keep faith on Me and feel the experience of My presence near you. So you all should enthusiastically reach the peak of deep devotion and penance because it is the only fastest and easiest way to reach Me and get My love.
This World is a market of huge malls of spiritual matters. Take the appropriate and the right thing according to your requirements. If you select the right spiritual path towards God, your achievement will be good. And if you go for the false spiritual path, everything will go wrong. The whole Universe is full of love and affection, so enjoy the sweetness of love”.
These instructions were given by Yogiraj Shree Sadguru Shankar Maharaj to His devotees in order to lead a happy and a satisfied practical as well as spiritual life.
“Anantakoti Bramhandanayak Rajadhiraj Yogiraj Parabramha Shree Sadguru Shankar Baba Maharaj Ki Jai”
Assurance
Yogiraj Shree Sadguru Shankar Maharaj's Divine Words to his devotees.
I am a resident of Kailas,
My name is Shankar.
I have came to explain the World,
Make your own identity.
This Universe has many colors,
My color is distinct.
Who will know the facets of my color?
It is in itself a great mystery.
Thou shall know me,
Who will know thyself?
Though you give all your wealth,
The question will still be incomplete.
Understand the truth now itself,
Later you will have to remorse.
Nothing will happen to me,
You shall be the only loser.
Carve on stone walls,
All My teachings.
When time will come,
You will remember only my phrases.
Wonderful Samadhi
In the midst of the year 1946, Shree Shankar Maharaj was traveling in a car accompanied with some of His devotees to Goddess Padmavati Temple . Maharaj joined his hands and sat in front of His beloved Goddess for a long time and took Her blessings. Maharaj sensed that His time to leave the mortal world was near. No one could understand the conversation going on between Maharaj and the Goddess. All at once He got up and started walking briskly towards Katraj Ghat. Maharaj stopped near the foothills of Katraj Ghat at Dhankavdi in the farm of Mr. Malpani who was a devotee of Maharaj. There was a huge well in the farm. Maharaj quenched His thirst with water from the well and stood calmly at one place in the farm and said, "This is the place for My Samadhi temple. This place is blessed with the company of Saint Dnyaneshwar and Goddess Padmavati. I would sleep here forever". Hearing this all the devotees was shocked. On the way back, Maharaj addressed the devotees His last words, "When our clothes become old and turn to rags, then we change them. In the same manner My body has became old. So My soul is going to change the body". All the devotees requested Maharaj to change His decision of self immolation. But Maharaj replied, "The decision of self immolation was been taken 17 years back. Now it is not going to change. It is as firm as a rock". Then the devotees returned back to their respective houses in Pune with a heavy heart filled with sorrow and pain.
Dr.Nagesh Ghaneshwar, Barrister Raosaheb Mehendale, Yogi Dnyananathji Ranade, Professor Bhalchandra Deo and Motiwale Lagu Pandit once came to meet Shree Sadguru Shankar Maharaj. After a talk, Maharaj said, "Rau! These clothes on my soul have become old. Now they should be removed". Everybody felt sad at Maharaj's statement. Maharaj could not see His devotees in grief, so He walked to the Satyanarayan Puja at Wadekar Buva's house and invited everyone to eat ‘Khichadi’ (i.e. rice prepared with peas and spices. This was Maharaj’s favorite dish) after four days. After four days everyone gathered at Mr. Dhekane Mama's house. Maharaj himself prepared ‘Khichadi’ and feed everyone. He blessed everyone and said, "The golden chance to be in Samadhi for a yogi, saint or ascetic comes only after 17 years. Now the chance for My self immolation is coming on Vaishakh Shudh Ashtami (8 th lunar day from new Moon day of Vaishakh month according to Hindu calendar) on 28th April 1947. I am going in Samadhi on that day". This gave all the devotees information about the day of the Samadhi of Shree Shankar Maharaj. They informed this date to all the devotee of various villages.
Shree Shankar Maharaj ordered His devotee Mr. Bapu to recite the holy religious book 'Gurucharitra' from backwards i.e. starting from the last episode, on Vaishakh Shudh Ashtami in the Parvati Temple in Pune. On the previous day of Samadhi Maharaj ordered Mrs.Dhekane Mami to make a cup of tea and drank it. He ordered them to place a mattress and a pillow in a cupboard. He then had a bath and before entering the cupboard said, "Close the door and don't open it without my order. I am not going to meet or talk to anyone. So don’t open the door for anyone". Maharaj entered the cupboard at sharp 10'o clock. Mr.Dhekane Mama closed the door. Two devotees guarded the door day and night. Mr.Dhekane Mama and his wife were sitting on a mat the whole night.
On the early hours of 28th April 1947, the sound of 'Omkar' came from the cupboard followed by a message, "My soul has left this mortal world. Now start for further arrangements". Shree Shankar Maharaj left His body on the decided day of Ashtami. The news went around Pune like a fire. All the devotees gathered to take the last divine vision of Maharaj. The devotees could not control their grief. Dnyayaratna Maharshi Dhundiraj Vinod brought a copper wire with him and placed its one end on the throat of Maharaj and the other end to his ear. And message passed through the wire, "My soul has left this body and got united with Almighty God. I will be always in the Samadhi for the welfare of My devotees".
Shree Shankar Maharaj's funeral started from Mr.Dhekane Mama's house and travelled through Kaka Halwai Datta temple , Globe Cinema , Akkalkot Swami Samarth Math , Mandai , Shanipaar , Parvati temple , Aaranneshwar temple , Padmavati temple & finally reached the farm of Mr.Malpani at Dhankavdi. Mr.Omkarnath Bhasme , Mr.Phulari Dada , Dr.Shukla & Dr.Nagesh Ghaneshwar lifted the body of Shree Sadguru Shankar Maharaj on their shoulders till the place of the Samadhi.
During the funeral, Maharaj pushed Mr.Phulari Dada with His elbow and said, "Hold Me properly or else I will fall". Mr.Phulari Dada was startled and he looked at Maharaj, but Maharaj was calmly sleeping. Before keeping Maharaj in the place of the Samadhi, Shree Maruti Mali Maharaj stepped forward to take the last vision of Maharaj and saw Lord Hanuman in place of Maharaj. Shree Mali Maharaj asked, "So you had taken this human form only to show the right spiritual path to the misguided people of this world?".
Shree Shankar Maharaj was kept in Samadhi. All the devotees stepped forward to close the Samadhi. But in spite of putting all the sand dug out from the Samadhi place, it was not getting filled. Yogi Dnyananathji Ranade got the order from Maharaj, "Gather used flowers from the temples of Alandi, Jungli Maharaj Samadhi, Sopankaka Samadhi, Omkareshwar temple (Pune) and Goddess Padmavati temple and put the flowers on Me ". Yogi Ranade obeyed accordingly. He took a car and gathered the flowers. The flowers were placed in the Samadhi and it was closed. At around 5.00 p.m. Shree Shankar Maharaj's body was been closed in the Samadhi place with the sound of the cymbals and tabor. And the whole area was filled with a loud call of,
After Shree Shankar Maharaj was placed in the Samadhi, everyone returned to their respective houses. But Mr. Baburao Rudra sat near the Samadhi for the whole night alone fearlessly in spite of the dense jungle surrounding the farm.
Firstly the Samadhi of Shree Shankar Maharaj was built of bricks. After some days a shed was built on the Samadhi. And finally, after some years a huge Samadhi temple was constructed. The Samadhi temple of Yogiraj Shree Sadguru Shankar Maharaj is standing in all its glory at Dhankavdi (Pune).
After Samadhi
Yogiraj Shree Sadguru Shankar Maharaj took Samadhi in the year 1947. But as per His Guru Shree Sadguru Swami Samarth’s assurance ‘I have not gone I am alive’, Maharaj gives proof of His existence to His devotees. He met His devotee even after His Samadhi. He guided His devotees in their dreams. Even today many devotees see Maharaj near the fencing of the Samadhi temple. He gave the divine vision of His huge form to one of the devotee in the Samadhi temple.
In the year 1945, Shree Digambar Saraswati Rajyogi Anna Maharaj met Shree Shankar Maharaj. Maharaj promised him, "I will come to bless you after 21 years". And after that Maharaj took His Samadhi in the year 1947. But in the year 1966, Shree Rajyogi Anna Maharaj met Shree Shankar Maharaj in a festival organized at Waghod. He took Maharaj to Raver. Everyone bowed at Maharaj's feet with love and affection. They offered Maharaj food. Shree Rajyogi Anna Maharaj brought Maharaj to his house in Mumbai. They attended the engagement ceremony of Mr.Anant Kalkar and Miss Jayshri Ikkhe. Maharaj gave His cap and handkerchief to father-in-law of Mr.Anant Kalkar. After that Maharaj disappeared from there. And from that day the Ikkhe family flourished. Today the cap and handkerchief used by Shree Shankar Maharaj is with Mr. Ramesh Ikkhe at Mulund (Mumbai).
In the year 1989, Mrs.Uma Nerurkar and Mr. Shankar Nerurkar (proprietor of Ideal Book Depot, Dadar, Mumbai) were returning back at night from the Incarnation day ceremony of Shree Swami Samarth at Borivli. In the darkness of the night Shree Shankar Maharaj came forward from the bushes and asked for a cigarette and matchbox. The couple gave cigarette and matchbox to Maharaj. At once Maharaj took it and disappeared in the bushes in the darkness. Both of them were speechless and stunned at this unexpected experience of the divine vision of Shree Shankar Maharaj.
Long time ago, the area around Samadhi temple of Shree Shankar Maharaj was surrounded by dense forest. Tigers existed in that area and were almost the daily unexpected visitors. It was only because of the prowess of Shree Shankar Maharaj, they did not ever dare to harm any of the devotees.
Shree Shankar Maharaj gave His divine vision to one of the devotee by arising from His Samadhi. After three years from Samadhi, on the fortnight of the eighth day from the new moon day Mr.Abhyankar saw Maharaj getting up from the Samadhi and playing with the hanging candle lamp with His leg. Mr.Abhyankar's daughter was once sick. Maharaj visited his house after Samadhi and met Mr.Abhyankar. Maharaj removed his cap and slippers and went inside the toilet. Mr. Abhyankar secretly hid Maharaj's cap and slippers in the trunk, so that Maharaj could not go back again and would stay with him. Maharaj took a long time in the toilet, so he entered the toilet and discovered that Maharaj had disappeared. So he rushed to the trunk to see if the cap and the slippers were there, but both the things were missing.
On the Lakdi Pool in Pune, a man by the name Shree Shankar Maharaj met a person everyday. Both of them used to have a hearty conversation. The man always said that He stayed in Dhankavdi. But after few days there was no sign of the man, so the person started hunting for the man in Dhankavdi. He inquired everyone about Shree Shankar Maharaj. Mr.Baburao Rudra showed him the Samadhi temple of Shree Shankar Maharaj. He was astonished, for the man whom he met daily on the Lakdi Pool was none other than Yogiraj Shree Sadguru Shankar Maharaj. He bowed his head on the Samadhi and went away full of joy.
After the Samadhi, Shree Shankar Maharaj visited Mr.Dada Phulari Saurgaonkar's house in Dakshin Kasba Peth in Solapur and asked for tea and cigarette. Maharaj also asked for the pant and shirt which he was wearing. After taking all the things, Maharaj requested Mr.Saurgaonkar to accompany Him. But Mr.Saurgaonkar refused the proposal. Surprisingly after eight days from this incident, Mr. Saurgaonkar left this mortal world.
In the city of Makarana in Rajasthan, a statue of Shree Shankar Maharaj was been made to be placed on the Samadhi. While the carving of the statue was in progress, an unknown man daily visited the sculptor and guided him in making the statue. He also ordered the sculptor to make the face of the statues similar to His face. But after the statue was ready, the man never turned back again. The man was none other than Yogiraj Shree Sadguru Shankar Maharaj Himself. In this way, Maharaj personally paid attention for the making of His statue.
In the year 1993, the ex-minister of Maharashtra Hon. Mr.Diwakar Rawate was a mayor of Mumbai. He decided to name a stanza of four roads by the name of his Guru Shree Shankar Maharaj. He hunted for an empty stanza and found one near Prabhadevi (Mumbai). He named it as ‘Shree Sadguru Shankar Maharaj Chowk’. Mr.Rawate was aware that there was no connection between Maharaj and the empty stanza. In the year 2001, Mr.Rawate read the biography of Shree Shankar Maharaj, ‘Dhankavdicha Yogi’. He was amazed to read that Maharaj had stayed seven times with Sahastrabuddhe family in Mithwala Chawl which is situated besides the stanza. Maharaj had organized various religious celebrations in that area. Mr.Rawate was overwhelmed with joy with the thought that the he named the same stanza which had become holy by the divine touch of Maharaj. In this way Shree Shankar Maharaj showed His existence after Samadhi to Mr.Diwakar Rawate.
A great devotee of Shree Samarth Sadguru Satam Maharaj of Danavali, Late Mr.Raghunath Gajanan Vaingankar had worked on many important posts in government offices. Once while he had visited Pune for some work, his friend Mr.Mohanrao Patil (ex district officer of Solapur) came to meet him. He took Mr. Vaingankar to the Samadhi temple of Shree Shankar Maharaj at Dhankavdi. Mr.Vaingankar bowed on Maharaj’s Samadhi with great affection. When he stood up his ‘Parker’ pen attached in his pocket fell on Maharaj’s Samadhi. On this incident Mr. Patil said, “Maharaj has blessed your writing”. Mr.Vaingankar was a learned and a religious person. By the grace of Maharaj, Mr.Vaingankar became a great writer. He wrote literature of many great saints like Shree Sadanand Saraswati, Shree Raool Maharaj, Shree Satam Maharaj, Shree Sancharmurti Dada Maharaj, etc. Shree Shankar Maharaj blessed him in his later life by honoring him by ‘Shree Sadguru Shankar Maharaj Prathishthan’ without any expectation.
A resident of Mulund (Mumbai), Mr.Sanjog Kadam worked as a computer engineer in an American company in Pune. After completing his work he visited daily to Samadhi temple of Shree Shankar Maharaj at Dhankavdi and get engrossed in meditation. And from there he moved to his aunt’s house for stay. He was happy with his daily routine. Once he got late in office and missed the bus. He started walking towards the direction of aunt’s house. At that time a man wearing white shirt and white pant, having a beard gave Mr.Kadam lift in his car. He dropped Mr.Kadam near Katraj and said, “I have taken all your worries”. He also guided him to the last bus and moved from there. He took no time to understand that the man was none other than Yogiraj Shree Sadguru Shankar Maharaj. After few days on June 2001, his company decided to send all the computer engineers to America for training. On the day of departure Mr.Kadam’s name was excluded from the list. He was very sad and so he stopped going to Dhankavdi and cursed Maharaj. But on 11 th September 2001, the company received a fax saying that all the engineers who had gone for training in America were dead due to the air attack on World Trade Centre. On hearing the news Mr.Kadam ran on the Samadhi and begged for apology in prostration. He said, “Maharaj, if I were in America I would have been dead by now. By your grace today I am alive. You saved my life”. With this incident, Mr. Sanjog Kadam came to know how a real ascetic saves his devotee from the clutches of death.
A devotee of Shree Sadguru Swami Samarth, Mr.Vijay Joshi is a resident of Dadar (Mumbai). All of a sudden both his kidneys stopped working. He was immediately admitted to a hospital. He was going on dialysis the next day. At that time a devotee of Shree Shankar Maharaj requested him to read the book, ‘Dhankavdicha Yogi’. He read the whole biography of Maharaj till late night and went to sleep by keeping the book under his pillow. The next morning the book was missing under the pillow. He started meditating Maharaj’s name before going on dialysis. At that time he went to the bathroom for toilet and naturally passed his urine. The doctor was surprised, so he examined Mr.Joshi and was amazed to see both his kidneys working properly. In this way Mr.Vijay Joshi experienced the existence of Shree Shankar Maharaj after Samadhi.
The trustee of Akkalkot’s Rajerai Math, Mr.Vikas Dodake experienced the existence of Shree Shankar Maharaj in his life. After the death of both the parents, his uncle brought him to Akkalkot. He accepted the job as a clerk for night shift at ‘Shree Vatavruksha Swami Maharaj Devasthan’ temple. At day time he continued his studies and at night worked in the temple. One evening an old man aged around 100 years came to the temple in the evening. He stayed in the temple in room number ‘12’. He was all alone and no one came to meet him. At night shift after the temple doors were closed, Mr.Dodake heard voices of two people talking to each other from room number ‘12’. The two people were deeply engrossed in their talking, so he decided not to disturb them and went to sleep. The next day he got up early morning and went in the room to check the person with the old man. But there was no one except the old man in the room. He asked the old man, “You are staying alone in the room. So who was the person with whom you were chatting?” On that the old man replied, “I have came here alone and the person who was talking with me was my Guru Shree Shankar Maharaj. After chatting the whole night He disappeared early in the morning”. Mr. Dodake wondered how Shree Shankar Maharaj was in the room with the old man the whole night though he knew that Maharaj had taken Samadhi long back. He was surprised, so he inquired was amazed to know that the old man was none other than Mr. Anna Pansare, a great devotee of Shree Shankar Maharaj. He is one of the few people who had experienced divine company with Shree Shankar Maharaj.
Mr.Anna Pansare had great experiences of Shree Shankar Maharaj’s existence after Samadhi. He strongly believes that Maharaj is always with him even after Samadhi. Once in an accident Mr.Pansare’s bone of the thigh broke. He was admitted in the hospital. After taking the X-ray operation was decided for his broken bone. Due to the broken bone he was experiencing unbearable pain. He was not able to move on the bed, so he meditated Maharaj’s name. On the early hours, a doctor with a beard came to his bed with a bag. Mr.Pansare was awake at that time. The doctor asked him to sleep upside down and removed a wood cutting blade and a bone from the bag. The doctor cut the broken bone with the wood cutting blade and placed the bone which He had got with Him. After that the doctor was busy doing something for a long time. After sometime, Mr.Pansare went to sleep and woke up in the morning and went to the bathroom for toilet. The doctor and the sisters were surprised to see him performed his regular activities with a broken bone. So the doctor again took his X-ray and was amazed to see the broken bone in normal condition. The doctor got frightened and to save himself from the incident he peacefully discharged Mr. Pansare from the hospital. But Mr.Pansare was very aware that the doctor who operated him with a wood cutting blade was none other than Yogiraj Shree Sadguru Shankar Maharaj. This incident is impossible in the medical science but Mr.Anna Pansare actually experienced it. Shree Shankar Maharaj is such a great ‘Awaliya’ that He can do anything and nothing is impossible for Him.
In the year 1968, Mr.Chandrashekhar Ashtaputre, a resident of Kasba Peth (Pune) had helped his doctor friend by taking a bank loan. After few days the friend ran away. Mr.Ashtaputre got frightened as his parents would know the truth about the loan. So he decided to suicide on the railway track. The line man of the railway drew him away so he went to the Samadhi temple of Shree Shankar Maharaj at Dhankavdi. He pleaded Maharaj to save from the crisis. By the grace of Maharaj he was rescued from the problem, so he developed faith on Maharaj. After few years his business was ruined by heavy loss. Then he decided to end up his life and went to the Samadhi temple to seek permission from Maharaj. But at that time, it happened so that he had to stay back at the Samadhi temple for homage. Mr. Ashtaputre got engrossed in the service of Maharaj. Shree Shankar Maharaj’s Samadhi day celebration was first celebrated in the year 1972. He played an active role in the ceremony. He collected two sacks of food grains for distribution of Prasad. But one of the trustees Dr.Bhoye put the condition that if he can make arrangements for a new pair of clothes for the idol of Shree Shankar Maharaj then only he would be allowed to celebrate the ceremony. Mr.Ashtaputre got worried on how to fulfill the condition. But on that moment the chairman of Malinagar sugar factory, Mr.Raut entered the Samadhi temple and gave one sack of sugar and a pair of new clothes for the idol of Shree Shankar Maharaj. On the request of Dr. Bhoye, he also gave rupees five thousand to make silver ‘Padukas’ for Maharaj. Those ‘Padukas’ are still present in the Samadhi temple. In this way the first ever Samadhi day celebration of Shree Shankar Maharaj was celebrated in a grand ceremony. Some of the people could not tolerate the major active part of Mr. Ashtaputre in the ceremony, so they tried to make him mad by making him wear clothes from the idol of Maharaj. The same way as an educated man from Pune wore clothes from the idol of Maharaj and became mad. The people removed all the clothes of Mr.Ashtaputre and made him naked. They made him wear the shawl from the idol of Shree Shankar Maharaj. But still he was in his senses and did not turn mad. After one year of service Maharaj illustrated Mr. Ashtaputre to leave the temple and go home. Today he is on an important post in a big company. Marriage of Mr. Ashtaputre’s sister’s was decided. She always wished that Maharaj should be present personally for her marriage. So went to Samadhi temple and invited Maharaj with deep devotion for the marriage. On the day of the marriage a man who seemed drunk came at the time of mahurat (i.e. the time on which the marriage is done) with a small bag in His hand. He put the holy rice on the couple. He was very simple in looks and different from other people. He then went near the buffet lunch and picked up a grain of rice and put in His mouth and walked away. He was been watched by a devotee of Shree Gajanan Maharaj, who himself was a learned religious man. He sensed that the man was none other than Shree Shankar Maharaj himself, so he walked to the man and asked, ‘Are you Shree Shankar Maharaj?” The man replied, “No! I am a thief who has stolen slippers and shoes. Look at this.” And he showed his small bag with slippers and shoes. Then He told the devotee of Shree Gajanan Maharaj that his wife was calling him. The devotee turned to his wife to talk and after that he again turned back to the man. He was surprised to see that the man had disappeared. The devotee waited till the whole marriage ceremony was over to see whether anyone’s slippers or shoes were missing. But there was no case of theft. He recited the whole incident to Mr.Ashtaputre and informed him that Shree Shankar Maharaj was present for the marriage. Mr.Chandrashekhar Ashtaputre was overwhelmed with joy and got the proof that Shree Shankar Maharaj always appears in human form for His devotees.
Retired chief surgeon of Central Railway hospital Dr.Shyamsundar Bhopardikar, had visited a devotee of Shree Shankar Maharaj. They were engrossed in the talk of spiritual path to Maharaj. Dr.Bhopardikar was of a scientific nature and believed that spiritual path is a path of hypocrite. He insisted the devotee to show a live proof of Maharaj’s prowess which can be stated as a miracle in scientific knowledge, then only he would accept the existence of Shree Shankar Maharaj. The devotee produced the X-ray and medical documents of his relative and also called the relative. He said, “She had pain in her knee and was not able to walk properly. So the doctor had advised an operation on the knee and without operation she could not walk. She is also a devotee of Shree Shankar Maharaj. Once Maharaj came in her dream and restricted her to get operated. From the next day her pain reduced day by day and could walk without operation”. Dr.Bhopardikar examined all the documents and the X-ray and said, “According to medical science it is impossible for her to walk. But still she can walk. It’s indeed a miracle in medical science!” And from that day, Dr.Shyamsundar Bhopardikar became a devotee of Shree Shankar Maharaj.
Shree Shankar Maharaj looked on all religion, cast and creed with an equal eye. This was one of the best qualities of Maharaj. The experience of the Christian man, a resident of Dadar (Mumbai) Mr.Nazreth D’souza, is a great example of this quality. Once Mr.D’souza faced a critical incident in which he was about to loose his job. He was in a state of confusion. At that time his friend devotee of Shree Shankar Maharaj took him to Samadhi temple at Dhankavdi. Mr.D’souza got the divine glimpse of Jesus Christ in the place of Maharaj. After returning home he placed a photograph of Maharaj besides the photograph of Jesus Christ. He regularly offered ‘Honeydew’ cigarette to Maharaj with great affection. By the grace of Maharaj he got back his job with promotion. He became a devotee of Maharaj. By the order of Maharaj, Mr.D’souza recited repeated recitations of ‘Guru Charitra’ for a week under ‘Audumbar’ (i.e. a fig tree) tree at Gangapur.
A resident of Kasba Peth (Pune), Malvadkar couple is a devotee of Shree Shankar Maharaj. Once they had visited Samadhi temple and stood in the line for taking Prasad. At that time a man with a beard came near them and pulled them from the line and took them outside the temple on the road. He gave them a photograph of Maharaj. He made them sit in a rickshaw and ordered them to go home and place the photograph in their house. It all happened within a fraction of a second. The couple was confused on the incident. On reaching home they realized that the man was none other than Shree Shankar Maharaj himself.
A great saint among the devotees of Shree Sadguru Swami Samarth, Shree Digambardas Joshi Maharaj had noted an incident in His biography, ‘Tucha Baap Dhani’. It stated that Shree Baba Maharaj Sahastrabuddhe had come to take the last vision of Shree Shankar Maharaj at the time of Samadhi. He held a basil leaf near Maharaj’s mouth. Maharaj ate the leaf and said, “I am going”. Saying this Shree Shankar Maharaj closed His eyes.
Swamikanya Mrs.Mai Varerkar, never believed in anyone except Shree Swami Samarth. Once on her visit to Akkalkot, she had high fever. She got frustrated with fever, but she did not take any medicine as she had faith in Shree Swami Samarth and believed that Shree Swami Samarth would cure her. On that time, a devotee of Shree Shankar Maharaj was meditating in the Murlidhar temple. Maharaj gave him illustration, “My devotee is having high fever. Go and tell to apply nutmeg powder to the whole body”. The devotee informed Maharaj’s message to Mrs.Varerkar. So her colleagues did accordingly and she was cured from fever. And from that day, Mrs.Mai Varerkar became a devotee of Shree Shankar Maharaj.
Freedom fighter, Late Mr.Manohar Rajnekar is a resident of Jabalpur. Once Rajyogi Anna Maharaj gifted Mr.Rajnekar photograph of Shree Shankar Maharaj and ordered him to place it in his shop. Mr.Rajnekar was not aware of name and prowess of Maharaj. But still he placed it in his shop and worshipped it with deep devotion. His business flourished and he led his domestic life in happiness. His daughter’s marriage was decided in Pune. At that time his friend took him to the Samadhi temple of Shree Shankar Maharaj at Dhankavdi. He was happy to see that the person in the photograph was none other than Shree Sadguru Shankar Maharaj. By the grace of Shree Shankar Maharaj Mr.Rajnekar’s life had turned golden.
A merchant in Dadar’s (Mumbai) Veer Savarkar Mandai, Mr.Raghunath Chavan is a devotee of Shree Shankar Maharaj. He had placed a photograph of Maharaj in his shop which he worship everyday. Once an enlightened old man wearing white dress had came to his shop. His looks showed His richness and knowledge. He said, “I have no money. But can you give me two three cubes of lump sugar?” Mr.Chavan fulfilled the old man’s demand. The old man applied ‘Henna’ fragrance on Mr.Chavan’s hand. He got deeply engrossed in the sweetness of the fragrance. After a while when Mr.Chavan came back to his senses, he found that the old man had disappeared. Mr.Raghunath Chavan joined his hands in front of the photograph of Maharaj and recognized that the old man was none other than Shree Shankar Maharaj.
Famous lyricist Late Mr.Ramesh Anavkar was a resident of Goa . He was a devotee of Shree Sadguru Swami Samarth and Shree Shankar Maharaj. Maharaj always guided him in his dreams. By the grace of Maharaj, he could compose many immortal songs. As per Maharaj’s illustration in dream he got married. On the later part of his life, Maharaj gave him illustration and said, “Your Sea is sinking”. And on 30 th January 2004 Mr.Ramesh Anavkar left the mortal World and merged on Shree Shankar Maharaj’s feet.
The great writer of Marathi literature Mr. Pralhad Keshav Athre alias Mr.Acharya Athre was a great devotee of Shree Shankar Maharaj. On the last stage of Mr.Athre life, his daughter requested Maharaj, “We cannot see his pain anymore. If you want him to live more then it will be a favor on us. But if not than please give him space near your feet”. Maharaj freed Mr.Athre from the mortal World on 13 th June. Number ‘13’ was Maharaj’s favorite number. Shree Shankar Maharaj said, “13 mean Sab Kuch Tera, Kuch Nahi Mera! (i.e. everything is your, nothing is mine)”.
A great writer of Marathi literature Mr.Baburao Arnalkar had written about five thousand suspense novels. He was a great devotee of Shree Swami Nityanand Maharaj (Vajreshwari, Maharashtra). He had once visited Shree Shankar Maharaj’s Samadhi temple at Dhankavdi with Mr.Acharya Athre. He was fascinated by the prowess of Maharaj. He then decided to write some literature on Maharaj. But one day Maharaj came to his house in Goregaon (Mumbai) and ordered him to write a biography of some other saint. He obeyed accordingly and wrote a book named, ‘Shraddhechi Anjali’ in Marathi language. This was one among the only religious book he wrote in his life.
Once Shreemati Indirabai Lagatkar read biography of Shree Shankar Maharaj and felt that if Maharaj was a real ascetic then He will meet her. Keeping this thought in mind she visited ‘Vruddheshwar’. On the gate of the temple she saw an enlightened 11 years old boy. He greeted her with great respect. After paying homage in the temple she turned to the boy and was surprised to know that the boy had disappeared. Then also she did not believe in the prowess of Maharaj and returned back to the car. She saw the eyes of the boy in the car and she heard a voice, “I gave you my divine glimpse”. She was overwhelmed with joy and made way for tears and experienced the prowess and existence of Shree Shankar Maharaj.
Dr.Nagesh Dhaneshwar was a great devotee of Shree Shankar Maharaj and had experienced the divine company of Maharaj before Samadhi. He had experienced very divine unbelievable experiences of Maharaj even after Samadhi. His family was blessed by Maharaj and till today these blessings are on the Dhaneshwar family. They experienced the same during the accident of the grandson of Dr.Dhaneshwar. His thigh bone broke in to six pieces. He was admitted to the hospital. At that time he smelled the harsh smell of the cigarette in the hospital, while there was no one smoking cigarette in the hospital. A big operation was conducted on him. The doctor was not sure for him to be able to walk properly in future. But now he can walk and run properly. Dhaneshwar family realized that the smell of the cigarette proved the presence of Shree Shankar Maharaj in the hospital.
There are many such incidents which the devotee experience in their life, thus proving existence of Shree Shankar Maharaj even after His Samadhi. The divine experiences of Maharaj given to His devotee are vast and beyond explanation. Shree Shankar Maharaj stood besides His devotees in their problems while in human form. But still today He shows His existence to His devotees by helping them in crisis. Yogiraj Shree Sadguru Shankar Maharaj only knows His Leela’s.
Miracles
Shree Sadguru Shankar Maharaj’s childhood activities were outstanding,like swimming in deep water, playing with tigers in the forest, catching live snakes and bringing them home, producing sweets from His fist and giving it to small children, playing with birds and making them sit on His shoulders, visiting festivals and getting engrossed in hymns, telling people their future which by due course of time turned to be true, etc.,. After Maharaj left His house He visited Kedarnath and showed His prowess to the people by having bath in the river Mandakini, which was freezing below 0°C.
Shree Shankar Maharaj was a Nathpanthi (i.e. follower of Navnath tradition). He visited the religious place of Machindranath’s Madhi. Maharaj gave a loud shout of ‘Aalakh’ and enlighten the Dhuni (i.e. fire place) of Machindranath. This Dhuni was extinguished thousands of years ago. The construction work of one of the factory in Mali Nagar in Pune district was not getting completed. Maharaj visited the factory and removed the stone Padukas of Saint Gahininath from the factory premises and ordered to construct a temple inside the factory. And after that the construction work of the factory was completed. During Maharaj’s stay in Nasik , some of His devotees planned to visit Saint Gahininath’s Samadhi. Maharaj restricted them from going and said that Saint Gahininath would be coming at 10’O clock in the night. But His devotees insisted and visited the Samadhi of Saint Gahininath. The same night, at 10’O clock Saint Gahininath entered Maharaj’s room with a loud call of ‘Alakh’. All the devotees were frightened at the sight Saint Gahininath. They were talking for the whole night. Again the next morning Saint Gahininath walked out with a loud shout of ‘Alakh’. Everybody was deeply hurt and asked for forgiveness to Maharaj.
Once Shree Shankar Maharaj accompanied with His devotees was on way of Pathardi. Maharaj took a halt for a while in the forest. His face became serious and His big eyes started rotating. He gave a rap on the ground and gave a shout of ‘Alakh’ and ordered His pupils to dig. Everyone was astonished to discover a ‘Shivalinga’ of Vrudhdeshwar. This ‘Shivalinga’ of Vrudhdeshwar increases in size every year. Once Maharaj was deeply engrossed in hymns in the temple of ‘Vrudhdeshwar’ accompanied with His devotees Dr.Ghaneshwar, Advocate Shotri, Dada Kukade, Dada Karkhanis, Bhausaheb Ghaneshwar, Kukade Kaka, etc. He at once got up and went out. After some time a huge tiger entered the temple, walked around the ‘Shivalinga’ and went away in the darkness. All were frightened and hunted for Maharaj and told Him the incident. Maharaj had a hearty laugh and said, “How can I eat you?”
Shree Shankar Maharaj was not able to walk properly but once He climbed ‘Gurushikhar’ on Girnar Mountain in half an hour. He gave a loud call of ‘Alakh’ and ordered all the sages to wake up who were fast asleep in the mountain. Maharaj stayed in the company of Lions for eight days. On the last day of the stay Maharaj invited all the sages for a meal and cooked balls of wheat flour and vegetable of His choice. Each sage ate around 70-75 balls. All the sages were satisfied with the meal offered by Maharaj. Everyone was astonished on Maharaj’s prowess.
Shree Shankar Maharaj always made His devotees reach the stage of contemplation and gave them divine visions of various Gods in His place. Maharaj gave the divine glimpse of God Vishnu to Governor Sir Chunnilal Mehta. Maharaj gave the divine glimpse of Goddess Bhavani Mata to His devotees at Tuljapur. Once in the festival of ‘Shreeram Navami’ at Bhor, Maharaj gave the divine glimpse of God Rama to His devotees. Maharaj also gave the vision of His huge form to one of the sage in Shubhrai Math at Solapur. Maharaj once asked a small girl named Manorama Ranade to give Him a bath. She was very happy to fulfill Maharaj’s wish. Everybody was astonished to see the vision of God Balkrishna in place of Maharaj while taking a bath from the girl. Maharaj gave divine glimpses of God Shiva, God Rama, God Vitthal, God Hanuman, etc. to His devotees. Shree Shankar Maharaj blessed the last Governor of India, Lord Mountbatten and also gave him divine glimpse of Lord Jesus Christ. This incident in mentioned in his autobiography, ‘Last Days in India’.
Once Maharaj ordered Dr.Hari Trambak Khare to bring 15 shers (i.e. unit used to count food grains in olden days) of rice and asked him to cook it and keep it in a room. Maharaj locked himself inside the room and worshipped Goddess Annapurna. He then asked Dr. Khare to distribute the food to the people in the festival. Maharaj was very happy with Dr.Khare so He blessed him by keeping His hand on his head and gave him the divine vision of God Dattatray in this state of contemplation. Maharaj gave the divine glimpse of His huge form to Mr.Gosavi of Sangli. Once Shree Swami Samarth ordered His devotee in dream who was a photographer to visit Audumbar and click His photograph. But he was astonished to find Shree Shankar Maharaj. Maharaj gave him divine glimpse of Shree Swami Samarth and ordered him to click His photograph.
In Appa Balwant Chowk in Pune is the palace of Sardar Mehendale . Mehendale had a great history of their valor in the war of Panipath. Their heir Barrister Raosaheb Mehendale was a devotee of Shree Shankar Maharaj. Maharaj blessed the barren historical palace and tunes of recitation of ‘Dnyaneshwari’ were heard from Mehendale’s palace for 32 years. Maharaj made recitations of ‘Dasbodh’ at various villages. After the Samadhi of the Shree Balkrishna Maharaj Suratkar (founder of Shree Swami Samarth Math at Dadar), Shree Shankar Maharaj visited the Math. Maharaj comforted Shree Kamala Mata (wife of Shree Balkrishna Maharaj). He kept His hand on her head and showed her Shree Balkrishna Maharaj sitting on the left lap of Shree Swami Samarth’s portrait in the Math. Maharaj once took a bath with boiling water to remove the conceit of a hypocritical sage from Hyderabad . He also gave life to a dead man from Nagar and ordered him to lead a life on spiritual path. Maharaj also trashed an eve teaser with a hunter. Maharaj changed the living style of the dacoits and transformed them to wise men. He swallowed approximately 1Kg of Ganja (i.e. dried hemp leaves), to teach a lesson and win a bet of Rs.100 with a hypocritical sage at Trambakeshwar. He also gave two eggs wrapped in a paper as a divine gift to a Brahmin man from Trambakeshwar to teach him a lesson, which later changed to two ripened mangoes. Maharaj scared a butcher from Kolkatta by scattering His body with the help of ‘Khand Yoga’ and ordered him to close his slaughter house. The wall at Saint Shubhrai Math’s was not getting constructed. Maharaj sensed the reason and discovered the idols of God Hanuman and God Nagnath Narsimha. Maharaj discovered the cave of Saint Shreepad Vallabh at Kuravpur. Maharaj gave Mr. Janardhan Buva divine vision of Saint Shreepad Vallabh.
Shree Shankar Maharaj once visited Gangapur temple to view the 'Datta Padukas'. But all the Brahmin priests restricted Him from entering the temple. Maharaj walked away and sat on the 'Rudra Ghat' on the banks of the river Bhima. The ‘Datta Padukas’ were given ‘Abhishek’ in the temple, but when the priests offered water, milk and flowers on the Padukas, they vanished. Then a priest came shouting that all the 'Abhishek' water, milk and flowers which had disappeared are on the feet of a man sitting on the Rudra Ghat. They were astonished to see Maharaj sitting at Rudra Ghat. Soon they realized that Maharaj was none other than God Dattatray. Realizing their mistake, they fell on Maharaj’s feet and apologized and took Him to the temple with great care and respect.
Maharaj saved Mr.Ganesh Mahadev Abhyankar’s life from the bullets at the battlefield. He took the pain and wound marks on His legs. Maharaj took the pain and operation marks of Mr.Vasudeo Bambordekar on His stomach. One of the devotees of Maharaj by the name Dr. Bhoye of Pune had gone on ‘Amarnath Yatra’ (i.e. a religious tour to Amarnath). On his journey he slipped with the horse in deep valley. On the very moment Maharaj appeared and lifted both Dr.Bhoye with the horse and saved their lives and disappeared. These incidents prove that Maharaj is always present between His devotees mentally and physically.
The British Government had filed a case of being a hypocritical ascetic against Shree Upasani Maharaj of Sakori. At that time Maharaj ordered Advocate Shotri who was a civil advocate to fight this criminal case. Advocate Shotri won the criminal case and freed Shree Upasani Maharaj. He was awarded the title of ‘Bar-at-law’ by the British Government for his outstanding performance in the court. Maharaj took Advocate Shotri to hill of ‘Bhasma’ at Gangapur and gifted him stone ‘Padukas’ (i.e. divine slippers) of God Dattatray.
Mr.Kanhere Guruji met Shree Shankar Maharaj in Shree Swami Samarth Math at Sadashiv Peth. Mr.Kanhere was busy in singing hymns in the Math. At that time Maharaj came and started beating the kettle drum and started disturbing Mr. Kanhere. He got angry on Maharaj and felt Him a mad person. So he walked away from the Math. But Maharaj followed him and started pushing him. On this Mr. Kanhere got angry and started beating Maharaj. Seeing this scene a wrestler came forward and stopped the quarrel. But Maharaj gave the wrestler a blow and obstructed him from interfering. Mr.Kanhere quietly walked away from there and again came back to the Math and started singing hymns. Maharaj also came behind him and climbed on his neck. But Mr. Kanhere forcefully pushed Maharaj and He got hurt on His head. Maharaj was bleeding profusely. But He just applied lime and the wound stopped bleeding. Mr.Kanhere furiously inquired, “Why are you after me?” On that Maharaj replied, “You are singing the hymns in an improper manner. And that old man (Shree Swami Samarth) was telling me to stop you. Now come I will teach you how to sing hymns”. Saying this Maharaj started singing the hymns. Hearing the hymns people started gathering in the Math and bowed on Maharaj’s feet. Mr. Kanhere got confused on this scene and was amazed to know that the man who was harassing him was none other than Shree Shankar Maharaj. He bowed on Maharaj’s feet and asked for apology. Maharj tought Mr. Kanhere all the hidden skills of music and he became an expert in singing and playing tabla (i.e. a musical instrument).
Shree Shankar Maharaj had invited Mr. Kanhere Guruji for dinner at 7.30 p.m. a day before His Samadhi. But Mr. Kanhere went for playing tabla in hymns and went to Maharaj at 10.00 p.m. Maharaj was waiting for him and said, “Only for twenty rupees you have missed a golden chance of a lifetime”. Mr.Kanhere washed his hands and sat for dinner and did not utter a word. A beautiful young lady wearing a saree and lots of jewels came forward and served the food and walked inside the room. Mr. Kanhere was staring surprisingly to the lady. But Maharaj shouted and asked him to eat food. Hearing this he was felt very guilty and did not looked up till he finished his food. Then he walked inside the room to wash his hands and was amazed to find the lady missing and found six to seven plates lying on the floor. He inquired Maharaj about the plates and the lady. Maharaj replied, “I am going to leave this World tomorrow. So I cooked all the food myself and had invited Shree Swami Samarth, Shree Saibaba, Shree Gajanan Maharaj and Shree Satam Maharaj for dinner. And I wished you to experience this golden chance, so I had called you. And the lady who went inside and disappeared was none other than Goddess Mahalaxmi of Kolhapur. I had requested her to wait to serve you food. You are really very lucky. You should not come here tomorrow as I am going from this mortal World. You would not be able to tolerate the grief”. Mr. Kanhere obeyed Maharaj’s order and became a great spiritual person. Mr.Kanhere Guruji experiences the love and care of Shree Shankar Maharaj even after the Samadhi and strongly believes the presence of Maharaj around him.
Jagatguru J. Krishnamurthy had visited Pune to give a lecture on spiritual knowledge to the people. On his return to Pune Railway Station Shree Shankar Maharaj came to meet him. Both of them had a hearty talk. Before leaving Maharaj put a garland of ‘Tulsi’ (i.e. basil) around Jagatguru J. Krishnamurthy’s neck and greeted him by giving a hug with love. In the same way Maharaj had met Avtaar Shree Meherbaba. Dnyayaratna Maharshi Dhundishastri Vinod of Alibaug met Maharaj in Mehendale’s bunglow at Pune. Maharshi Vinod had written a great spiritual book ‘Dhawalgiri’ in Marathi language. This book was later translated by Mrs.Joyce Bellakowich in English by the name ‘Towards the centre’. Learned men like Shree Govindswami Upalekar of Phaltan and Shree Mali Maharaj met Maharaj got His blessings.
The master of literature in India , Mr.Pralhad Keshav Athre (Acharya Athre) published an article in ‘Maratha’ newspaper on Mr.G. K. Pradhan on 10 th November 1963 and disclosed his deep devotion on Shree Shankar Maharaj. Acharya Athre got the divine vision of Maharaj in his dreams many times. He regularly visited Maharaj’s Samadhi temple at Dhankavdi. He always carried Maharaj’s photograph in his pocket and worshipped Him.
Mr.Narayan Rajhans and his play company artists had once organized a play in Gangapur. They missed their train. They were starving for food on the railway station. Shree Shankar Maharaj arrived there and gave them Puri Bhaji and disappeared. The next morning He stood in front of Mr. Narayan Rajhans and asked for the money. Mr.Narayan Rajhans tried to give Him money, but He refused it and said, “From now onwards start singing hymns of God every Thursday. My blessings are always with you. Narayan you will become the Gandharva (i.e. the celestial singer) of this earth”. Mr. Narayan Rajhans obeyed accordingly and became the famous ‘Bal Gandharva’. He sung hymns in Raosaheb Mehendale’s mansion in Pune for 32 years. Maharaj for playfully pulled curtains in Bal Gandharva’s plays. Once in a play He scattered all the organs of His body on the stage by His great knowledge of ‘Khand Yoga’. All the artists got frightened and ran away. After sometime He again placed all the organs back to its place. Once in the scene of sword fighting in the play Maharaj accidentally hit the artists on the neck with the sword and the artist died. So Maharaj held his neck and gave rebirth to the dead artist.
Freedom fighter Mr.Ramchandra Bhosale was an active member of ‘Patri Sarkar’ (It was a name of a group of revolutionaries). He killed three British officers during the freedom struggle. To avoid the police chase he rushed in the jungle near Nashik. An old Brahmin man gave him shelter in a hut. Though the police searched the whole hut, they could not find Mr. Bhosale. He learned that the old man in the hut was an ascetic, so he bowed on His feet and ran away. After few years, while his visit to Acharya Athre’s house, He saw the photograph of the ascetic from the hut. He was happy to know that the ascetic who saved him from the police was none other than Shree Shankar Maharaj.
In the year 1942, Mr.Gopalrao Khanderao Pradhan worked as a secretary to the managing director of Saswad Mali Sugar Factory at Akluj. Once Shree Shankar Maharaj accompanied with His devotees stayed in a room adjacent to Mr. Pradhan in the village. He criticized Maharaj thinking him a hypocrite as he hated hypocritical saints and blind faith. Mr. Pradhan left the room by the mess cause in the adjacent room to get bus to Mumbai in the stormy night. But the bus did not arrive. Mr. Pradhan returned back to the room as he was wet due to heavy rainfall. He was shivering due to cold wind and had high fever. At night Maharaj entered his room and asked, “So, Mr. Pradhan you were moving towards Mumbai. But how can you escape from Me? You can only go when I will leave you”. Saying this Maharaj started playing with the radio which was lying in the room. Mr. Pradhan was furious and said, “Do you have any knowledge about playing a radio? Do you want to break it? Your appearance is not that of an ascetic. You are nothing but a hypocrite. If you can prove yourself as an ascetic by giving me the Nirvikalp Samadhi (i.e. stage of trance) as Mukundraj Maharaj got from his Guru, then I will be grateful throughout my life and would become your devotee”. Maharaj at once stood up and extinguished His cigarette on Mr. Pradhan’s bald head. Within a fraction of a second he was in a stage of trance. His soul was separated from his body and wandered throughout the Universe. He was back in senses the next morning. He gently bowed on Maharaj’s feet and asked for forgiveness. Maharaj hugged him and said, “ My child you are a devotee of Shree Swami Samarth of Akkalkot. And that old man (Shree Swami Samarth) of Akkalkot was after Me ordering Me to give you something. So I gave you ‘Nirvikalp Samadhi’! That old man never gives anything to anyone, but only orders Me to bless His devotees. The old man is My Guru, so I can not refuse His order. I am only a mediator”.
Mr.G.K.Pradhan was once traveling to Germany from Norway. Due to technical problem all the people experienced disturbance in the plane. Mr.Pradhan got scared of death and started meditating Shree Shankar Maharaj for help. Within no time Maharaj appeared on the adjacent seat and the plane landed safely without any casualty. Once Mr. Pradhan asked his doubt to Maharaj, “How did God Krishna gave the message of ‘Bhagwad Geeta’ to Arjuna in the battlefield of Kurukshetra?” Maharaj stared and kept His hand on Mr. Pradhan’s head and at once took him to the battlefield of Kurukshetra. He gave the divine experience to Mr. Pradhan to hear the message of ‘Bhagwad Geeta’ from God Krishna’s mouth. In this way, Mr. Pradhan cleared his doubt of ‘Bhagwad Geeta’. Maharaj once asked Mr. Pradhan, “What do you want?” Mr. Pradhan immediately replied, “I want Bramhadnyan’ (i.e. knowledge of self)”. On this Maharaj roared with surprise and said, “You have inserted your hand on My ‘Langoti’ (i.e. a kind of under garment)”. Maharaj immediately blessed him and offered the divine power of ‘Bramhadnyan’.
In the year 1946, Mr.Pradhan’s father expired. He was in England and was not able to attend the funeral. He was in grief on hearing the news. On that night he was amazed to see Maharaj sitting besides him in England . But at that time Maharaj was actually present in Pune. Mr.Pradhan hugged Maharaj and gave way to his tears. Maharaj calmed him and held his hand and took him to Girnar Mountain in India . By the grace of Maharaj, Mr. Pradhan got the divine vision of Saint Machindranath, Saint Gorakhshanath and God Dattatray and His two dogs. The next morning Mr. Pradhan’s lady maid asked, “Sir! I had cleaned and polished your shoes last night. Where had you been last night? Your shoes are dirty with mud which is not of England . This mud looks like the one found in India . How did this mud get stuck to your shoes?” Mr.Pradhan was shocked to know that the whole journey to India and back again to England had taken place in a single night. That night Mr. Pradhan life took a divine diversion. By the grace of Maharaj, Mr.Pradhan reached the utmost peak and became a great devoted individual in the path towards the knowledge of self. After that Mr. G. K. Pradhan wrote a great novel ‘Towards the Silver Crest of the Himalayas ’. The book is a great success. Later Mr. Acharya Athre made Mr.Ramchandra J. Joshi translate the novel in Marathi language, by the name ‘Saad Deti Himashikhare’. Mr.Pradhan became immortal through this novel. Maharaj filled Mr. Pradhan’s life with peace, happiness and satisfaction. In the year 1999, this novel was translated in Japanese language. This novel is now available in Kannada and Gujarati languages.
Sahastrabuddhe family from Dadar (Mumbai) had experienced the divine company of Maharaj. He stayed with them for seven times. While taking Samadhi Maharaj appeared in Mr.Sahastrabuddhe’s dream and ordered her to reach Dhankavdi. Her husband was in disembodied stage for two years due to his deep devotion. But during this period his attendance in office was regular and a stranger used to come and handover the salary amount to his wife. The stranger never told his name and never turned back after Mr. Sahastrabuddhe gained back his senses. Maharaj gave this greatest experience to Sahastrabuddhe family.
How to reach Dhankavdi
Take a train,a state government bus or a private bus from Mumbai and alight at Pune Railway Station. Then reach Swargate by PMT bus. Then take a bus or share rickshaw going towards Katraj Ghat. At a distance of two and a half km from Swargate get down at the Shree Shankar Maharaj Samadhi Math at Dhankavdi. You can also get down at Dhankavdi by taking a direct bus from Pune Railway Station to Katraj Ghat. The Samadhi temple is situated on Pune-Satara road. We can also get a rickshaw from Pune Railway Station which will take you easily to take to Shree Shankar Maharaj Samadhi Math at Dhankavdi.
If you are traveling to Dhankavdi in your own vehicle from Mumbai, then take a left turn before Katraj Ghat on the Pune-Satara bypass road. And move towards Swargate. You can see the Samadhi Math on the right hand side. If you are travelling in state government bus from Mumbai to Satara or Satara to Mumbai, get down at the stop of Katraj Ghat Octroi Naka. And from there take a rickshaw to Shree Shankar Maharaj Samadhi Math at Dhankavdi.
"Anantakoti Bramhandanayak Rajadhiraj Yogiraj Parabramha
Shree Sadguru Shankar Baba Maharaj Ki Jai"
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10 comments:
Sadguru Shankar Maharaj Ki Jai....though am an ardent devotee of Bhagawan Nityanand Maharaj of Ganeshpuri... yesterday it wsa my bday and I spent whole day at a Nathpanthi temple and this morning I read about Sadguru Shankar Maharaj and now he invited me to visit his Samadhi shrine...this is called love of god...when he loves you...you get attracted to him ...Aadesh....Jai Alekh Niranajan
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A learner who is searching to identify himself(Who am I). These are all his thoughts which he had scribbled down, so that anyone who is in a similar state can share or who is in a better state can guide...
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