Chapter 1           . Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21

Chapter - 11

Shri Ganeshayanmah! O Pashupati, Bhavanipati, you have as many forms as number of people in the universe. Your formless form occupies the entire universe and it is also the manifestation of maya in its original form. 0 Dear God, it is impossible to apprehend your form, and so you have been kind enough to manifest yourself in forms with different attributes. Devotees name you as they like, and the names do not make any difference for you. Shaiva call you Shiva Vedantis call you Brahma, Ramanujas call you Sitapati and you are Vishnu of Vaishnavas. Various methods of worshiping have given you these names, but you are the same everywhere. You are Vishveshwar at Somnath, Kedar in Himalaya, Mahankal on the bank of Kshipra, Naganath, Vaijanath, Ghrushneswar at Verul and Tryambak on the bank of Godavari. You are Bhimashankar, Mallikarjuna and Rameshwar. You are Shankar in the form of Gokarna and Mahadeo at Shinganapur. I bow before all of them. O Benevolenl God, please rid me of the troublesome elements of nature. O Girijapate, it is you who made Kubera wealthy in a moment. Then why this hesitation for me? Next year Shri Samartha came to Balkrishana at Balapur for Das navami. At that place there were His two most devoted devotees - SukIal and Balkrishna. Bhaskar Patil, Balabhau, Pitamber, Ganu, jagdeo and Dindokar accompanied Shri Maharaj. The celebration of Dasnavami was most satisfying, but fate had something else in store for Bhaskara. A rabid dog bit him and people were afraid that he would soon go rabid. All the possible treatment was given to him, and it was also suggested that he be taken to some doctor. But Bhaskar said that he did not need any doctor as Shri Maharaj was his real doctor to whom he wanted to be taken soon. Accordingly Bhaskar was brought before Shri Maharaj and Balabhau narrated him everything about the dog bite. Shri Maharaj heard and smilingly said, "Nobody can escape the effects of murder, enmity and debt. This Bhaskar removed the wickedness of Shukhlal's cow at Shegaon, and that wickedness has now come in the form of the dog to bite him. Bhaskar is so selfish that he had requested me to remove that wickedness from the cow so that he could get her milk for himself. You enjoyed drinking her milk, and now feel sorry for the dog bite. Do you want me to save you? Be frank. This dog bite is only an excuse to end your life. Your life is now over, and soon you have to leave this material world. If you wish to live more, I can save you, but that will be a sort of give and take affair in this illusive world. So be quick and let me know your mind. You will not get such chance again." Bhaskar said, "I am an ignorant child of yours. You do whatever is good for me. Shri Tukaram, in his Abhang has said that mother only understands everything that is good for her child. I am your child, so why should I request You 7 You are the ocean of all knowledge and know everything." Hearing this, Shri Maharaj felt very happy, as truth always satisfies people who are themselves truthful. Some devotees requested Shri Maharaj to save Bhaskar as he was one of the most dedicated disciple. Shri Maharaj said, "Gentlemen, it is your ignorance that makes you say so. Know that, this life and death itself is unreal. Nobody is born and nobody dies. The intellectuals to have advised the knowledge of the Supreme self understand this illusion. You cannot be liberated from the present life, without suffering the effects of your deeds of previous life. You do something in you past life and take birth to suffer the effects of those deeds and again to take birth for the deeds of present life and so on the cycle goes on. How long will you continue this chain? Bhaskar has finished suffering the effects of the deeds of his past life and now is liberated to attain Moksha (to merge with the Brahma). So please do not come in his way, let him go. It is difficult to get a devotee like Bhaskar. Know that, this dog was his enemy in the previous life and so it has bitten him in this life at Balapur. The revenge is over. But if this incident leaves any bitterness in the mind of Bhaskar, it will be a cause for another birth to him to avenge the bite. So understand that, as at today, the enmity of the previous life is over and Bhaskar is cleansed of all effects of that life. He is left with two more months of life, and I will save his from the effects of that dog bite for two months. If I do not do that he will have to take birth again and live for two months." So me people were unable to understand this supreme knowledge given out by Shri Maharaj, but Balabhau could comprehend and so was happy. He praised Bhaskar again and again for his sincere devotion to the saint and thereby againing the ultimate liberation from the cycle of life and death. Then all of them returned to Shegaon. Bhaskar narrated everything that happened at Balapur, to other devotees in the Math and with folded hands requested them as follows Shegaon is most fortunate to get Shri Gajanan Maharaj and so we in the form of some permanent memorial should retain this invaluable Trust. In fact He himself does not need any memorial but it is necessary in the interest of future generations. Like the monuments of Sant Dnyaneshwar at Alandi Shri Ramdas Swami at Sajjangad and Shri Tukaram Maharaj at Dehu, We should have a grand memorial of Shri Gajanan Maharaj at Shegaon." Bhaskar went on telling this to everybody but was doubtful about their conviction. So he, in the absence of Shri Maharaj, called a meeting of all devotees at Shegaon. Bankatlal, Han Patil, Maroti, Chandrabhan, Shripatrao Vavikar, Tarachand Saokar and many others attended. Bhaskar said to them, "Now my stay with you is for two months only, and I wish that a grand memorial of Shri Maharaj should come up at Shegaon. If you promise me to do it. I shall leave for "Vaikunth" with real happiness. Remember that service to saint never goes waste. He will fulfill all your desires. The memorial should be such that it attracts praise from everybody. This is my last desire. You vow to raise such monument for Shri Maharaj." All promised to fulfill his desire and Shri Bhaskar was satisfied. Day by day, Bhaskar was getting gay as a child waiting for the gayety of some ensuing festival. On Magh Vadya 13th maharaj said, "Bhaskara, let us go to Trimbakeshwar for Shri Mahashivaratri, as there resides on the bank of Godavari, Shri Shiva - the Bhavanivara. The Jyotirling at that place is most pleasant and capable of dispelling all sins. Don't delay. Let us go there and have holy bath in the sacred Godavari. Moreover, there is a hill named Brahmagiri near Tryambakeshwar and on it are lot of medicinal herbs Gahininath, Who knows all the medicinal herbs also resides over there. We can get some herbs for your anti-rabit treatment from him." Bhaskar said - "Why should I need any medicine now? Your blessings are more useful for me, than any medicine. By your grace I was freed of the poison at Balapur, and have to live for another two months only. So permit me to stay at Shegaon, as for me you are Trimbakeshwar, and your feet the Godavari where I shall take bath. Thus I don't need any other holy place to visit. Thereupon Shri Maharaj said that it was all true, but one should not ignore the importance of the holy and sacred places. He asked Bhaskar to get ready and also to take Pitambar and Balabhau with them. They all went to Tryambakeshwar on Shivaratri day, took bath at sacred Kushavarth, had darshana of Shri Shiva at the temple, and then offered Pujas to Goutami at Gangadwara, Ma Nilambika, Nivrutti and Gahaninath. From there they came to Nasik to meet Gopaldas who was always sitting at the entrance of Kalaram Temple in Panchavati. In front of it was a piple tree surrounded by a platform. Shri Gajanan Maharaj, along with his disciples, went and sat on it. Shri Gopaldas was very happy, and said to the people around him, "Today my brother has come from Vidarbha and his name is Gajanan. Go and have his darshan respectfully. Offer him coconut and sugar as a present from me, and put this garland around his neck. Though we have two bodies, still we are one. The disciples accordingly offered the coconut, sugar and garland to Shri Gajanan Maharaj and had his darshan. Looking to that Shri Maharaj said to Bhaskar, "Bhaskara, distribute this prasad to all. In this Panchavati I have met my brother today. So the work over here is finished. Let us now go to Shri Dhumal Lawyer of Nasik." Shri Maharaj came to Nasik where many people took his darshan. After staying there for few days he returned to Shegaon. Zyam-Singh came to Shegaon and requested him to go with him to Adgaon. Shri Maharaj was reluctant but looking to the fervent request of Zyam Singh, said that he would go to Adgaon after Ramnavami. Zyam Singh went back to Adgaon and returned to Shegaon again after Ramnavami as per the wish of Shri Maharaj. After the celebrations of Ramnavami Zyam Singh brought Shri Maharaj alongwith other disciples to adgaon for "Hanuman Jayanti". While at Adgaon Shri Maharaj performed many miracles. One afternoon he pushed Bhaskar flat on ground, sat on his chest and started beating him. All people were looking at it, but nobody could go to rescue Bhaskar from that beating. Then Balabhau said, Maharaj, kindly leave Bhaskar, he is getting scorched on hot earth below him." Thereupon Bhaskar said, "Don't obstruct him like that. Let him do as he likes. he is my God. You think that he is beating me, but infact he is playing with me. This experience can be understood only by those who know Him." Then Maharaj along with Bhaskar and other disciples came to Adgaon where they stayed. Shri Maharaj said, "Balabhau, now only two days are left for Bhaskar as he will leave this world on Panchami. You must have understood the reason for my beating him today. Do you remember that this Bhaskara had made me beat you with umbrella at Shegaon? To dispel the effect of that act, I beat Bhaskara today. There was no other intention." Now listen to what happened after Hanuman Jayanti celebrations at Adgaon. Prasad of 'Kala' was distributed and the day of "Panchami" dawned. On that day, in the morning, Shri Maharaj said to Bhaskar, "Bhaskara, your departure is scheduled for today. Facing east, sit in the "Padmasan" posture. Make your mind steady and concentrate on Almighty "Han". You are nearing the time of departure. Get prepared". To others he said -"Keep on chanting Loudly Vithal, Vithal, Narayan. This brother of yours is going today to Vaikunth. Worship him by offering flowers and "Bukka." Bhaskar sat in the Padmasan posture, concentrated both eyes on the tip of his nose and calmed his mind in complete surrender to Almighty. All the devotees were offering Puja to Bhaskar and Shri Maharaj was happily looking at them. The chanting of holy verses and "Bhajan" continued till midday when Shri Maharaj loudly said - "Har Har". And with those words Bhaskara's soul left for "Vaikunth". Only those who are blessed by saints go straight to Vaikunth. People asked Shri Maharaj about the place for Shri Bhaskara's burial, and He advised them' to bury him near the Shiva Parvati temple Then they brought a palanquin and decorated it with leaves of banana tree around it. Bhaskara's body was kept in it and carried in a procession with devotees singing Bhajans in the front. They reached the Dwarkeshwar temple and all rites of Samadhi were performed, near the place of burial. People were weeping with grief, saying that the greatest disciple of Shri Maharaj had left them forever. From next day started the feeding of poor people in memory of Bhaskar. This Shrikrishna - Shankar Parvati temple is about a mile away to the north of adgaon. The surrounding of Shrikrishna temple was very lively with the greenary of trees like Nimb, Ashwatha, Mandar, Audumbar and many flower plants. The place is between Akola and Adgaon. The feeding of people, called "Sant Thandara" continued for ten days. People sat under the tamarind tree for their food, but the crows started trouble by continueous cawing, lifting away food from their plates, and even dropping dirt on them. All this annoyed the people rery much and the called the Bhill to shoot arrows at them. Seeing that, Shri Aaharaj said, Don't shoot at the crows. They have done nothing wrong, as they have come iere to get the Prasad of Bhandara just like you. Bhaskaras' soul has as ended straight to Vaikunth without any break on the Pitrulok. Normally the souI of a dead person keeps on wandering in the sky for ten days. On eleventhday a ball of rice (Pind )is offered to crows, on whose touching it only (by crow)the souldgoes ahead. In Bhaskar's case, his soul went straight to Vaikunth and so there was no need of offering the rice ball (Pind) to the crows. That is why the crows are angry. His soul has been liberated immediately and by this rime it has reached the Vaikunth. While on earth he had attained the detach- ment and so needs no offering of the rice (Pind). Rice ball offering is given those persons who are not favoured with direct ascent to the heaven. Now knowing that Bhaskar's soul has gone straight to heaven, the crows are angry and by their such behavior they only want to say that they be given Prasad Bhaskar as given to other people. So don't shoot at them. I will tell them. crows listen to what I say. Don't come to this place from tomorrow, as it m lower the prestige of my Bhaskar. Eat the prasad today to your heart content and don't come here from tomorrow." All the devotees were pleased to hear Shri Maharaj, but a few non belivers were sarcastic and said that it was all nonsense. "How can birds obey t orders of human beings ?", said they to each other. Next day they even went that place to see effect of what Shri Maharaj had said. There was not single crow there. They were surprised and then surrendered to Shri Maharaj. T crows did not visit that place for twelve years. After 14 days Shri Maharaj returned to Shegaon with his remaining disciple Now listen to another story. It was a year of famine and so a work on digging of well was going on. Diggir of about 10 feet was done and then came up hard black rock making it impossible to dig further. So four holes were made for dynamites, and putting or end of string inside. Gun powder was packed in them. The other ends of ft strings were taken up and through them were passed small burning wooden pipes, so that they slide down and ignite the gun powder. But some how the wooden pipes got stuck on the string knots in between. They were not sliding down and the water in the well was about to enter the gun powder holes thereby making it ineffective to explode. Somebody had to go down & push the pipe down to save the situation, but nobody was ready to take such a risk. The contractor on the work asked Ganu Lavarya to go down the well immediately Because of his poverty Ganu had to obey. It is always seen that poor sheep killed as an offering to God . Ganu had great faith in Shri Gajanan Maharaj and so remembering Him. Ganu went down the well and pulled one obstructed pipe which immediately slid and touched the gun powder before he could pull another. The first one exploded. Ganu Javarya was caught inside the well. He fervently prayed Shri Maharaj to save him. Whole well got filled with smoke and before the next dynamite exploded Ganu got hold of one side rock below which there was a cavern. Ganu immediately slid in it. One after the other all the remaining three dynamites exploded and lot of stones were thrown out People thought that Ganu must have been split into pieces and thrown ou Contractor asked other workers to search the body around. Ganu heard hir and shouted from inside the well. "O mistry, Ganu is not dead he is perfectly alive in the well. By the grace of Shri Gajanan Maharaj I am sate in a cavern here, but there is a big rock obstructin me to come out." People, rejoicing to hear the voice of Ganu, went down the well and removing the stone by spades, brought his up. Ganu at once went running to Shri Maharaj and prostrated at his feet. Shi Maharaj smilingly said, "Ganu, hiding inside the cavern, how many stones have you thrown out? It big stone which obstructed you from coming out. intact saved you. Don't r peat such feats again and never in future touch the ignited pipe, once it h~ slid down a string. Now go You are saved from a great disaster today." When people came to see Ganu he said "O Maharaj, when the dynamite exploded, it was you who, holding my hand, put me safe inside that caver and saved from death." Such is the greatness of Maharaj for which I have r words to express. May this Gajanan Vijay Granth bring hapiness to all the devotees. This is what Das Ganu desires. "SHUBHAM BHA VA TU" Shri Han Hara Pranmastu Here ends Chapter - Eleven.

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