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The name of great contemporary Saint during the sojourn of Sai Baba and Gajanan Maharaj of Shegaon, Shri.Gangagir Maharaj finds a brief mention in holy Shri Sai Satcharitra Chapter 5. Shri Sai Baba and Gangagir Maharaj had a very intimate relationship between them. His name is mentioned in Chapter 5, OVI 2, 36 to 39 and 72 of the Holy Sai Satcharitra written Shri.Govind Raghunath Dabholkar alias Hemadpant. Gangagir Maharaj was a Vaishya householder Saint, from Puntambe. But he basically hailed from the village of Kaapus Vadagaon. He always frequented Shirdi. Gangagir went from village to village performing Naama Saptaha (continously reciting Lord's name for a week) and following the Saptaha, he performed Annadaan. Once, he came to Shirdi and performed Naama Saptaha and Annadaan. On that visit he saw Sai Baba, carrying pitchers of water in both hands, for watering the garden. Nearby he saw Mahalsapati standing and talking to some villagers. Gangagir Maharaj then went up to them and asked: "Who is this Maharaj?". Mahalsapati informed him that he was Sainath Maharaj. Then full of admiration he said: "He is a diamond. If you think, He is an ordinary stone lying in the rubble, then you have not recognized His divinity". Just then Baba went to the Dwaraka Mai and kept the pitchers. Gangagir Maharaj followed Him. Baba quickly kept the pitchers there and picked up a small stone in His hand as if to throw it at Gangagir Maharaj. The Maharaj just stood there smiling, "Go the way, and come through the vess" said Baba pointing the way. Gangagir Maharaj did just as Baba had ordered. Then Baba welcomed him saying, "Come Changdev Maharaj". Later Baba, Mahalsapati and Gangagir Maharaj sat and smoked a chillum in the Dwaraka Mai. Gangagir Maharaj was very fond of wrestling. While he was once wrestling, a similar feeling of dispassion came over him, and at the proper time he heard the voice of an adept, saying that he should wear out his body, playing with God. So he too gave up Samsara and turned towards God-realization. He established a math on the banks of the river near Puntambe, and lived there with disciples. Gangagir Maharaj always used to utter "Dene Ko Annadan. Lene Ko Hari Naam. Taraneko Leenata. Doobane Ko Abhiman" i.e., " Do Annadan. Take the Name of Hari. Be Humble. Immerse your Ego". We are providing below the contact details of Saint Gangir Maharaj Ashram for the benefit of Sai Devotees: Sadguru Gangagiri Maharaj Sansthan (Source: Holy Shri Sai Satcharitra Chapter 5, Shiladhi by Dr.Keshav Bhagawant Gawankar, and Official Website of Gangagir Maharaj Sansthan. Photo Courtesy: Smt.Shreya Nagaraj, Pune) |
