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Chapter - 17

Shri Ganeshayanmah ! Jai to you, the most auspicious one! Jai to you the protector of devotees. Jai to you to recover or darkness. O Saviour of the fallen. O God. Hiranyakashyapu was very cruel and an enemy of good people. You killed him by emerging out of pillar to protect Pralhad. That time you had a peerless form with fearful teeth and jaw, mane flowing on the neck and your fire red eye looked as if it were going to burn the universe. But this horrible appearance did not scare the devotees, like cubs playing in the laps of tiger. Looking to your appearance even Lakshmi dared not go near you, but the devotee touched your feet. O Lakshmikant, you are lover of your devotees and saints say that you fulfill aIl their desires and never say "no" to them. Now Dasganu prostrates before you and prays to keep up that fame of yours by making me fearless. There were many devotees of Shri Gajanan at Akola to whom he frequently used to go. They were, Bapukrishna of Chapadgaon, Khatauseth, Bacchulal son of Gondulal, Jijibai Pandit and many others. Once Shri Maharaj came to Akola and stayed at Khatau mills. Vishnusa, a devotee of Shri Maharaj wished to take Shri Maharaj to him at Malkapur, and requested Bhaskar to arrange it. This was the same Bhaskar who had later attained Nirvan at Adgaon. He was with Shri Maharaj to look after his needs and comforts. Vishnusa depended on him for getting the grace of Shri Maharaj. Bhaskar requested Shri Maharaj to Visit Malkapur as Vishnusa had come to invite him. Shri Maharaj said, "Bhaskara, I don't wish to go to Malkapur so don't force me. I tell you that if you force me more, it will make you regret. If a rope is stretched too much, it breaks. I don't wish to move from here, so do not bother me at all." Bhaskara said, "Whatever you may say. I still request you to visit Malkapur for the sake of Vishnusa. I, your most beloved devotee, have promised Vishnusa that you will go to him at Malkapur. Your refusal is shocking to me. Please honor my promise and let us go to Malkapur." Forcing like this, Bhaskar brought Shri Gajanan Maharaj to Railway station for going to Malkapur. On Bhaskara's request the station master got one compartment vacated for Shri Maharaj. Shri Maharaj did not move, nor said anything till the departure of the train. When the bell rang for the train to start, he moves unnoticed and instead of entering the vacant compartment, entered the ladies compartment. The sight of the naked saint scared the ladies and they immediately informed the police. The Officer of the police came and started dragging him out of the compartment saying. "You naked man, you do not have any sense. How did you enter ladies compartment?' With a jerk Shri Maharaj freed his hand and continued to sit there without fear of that officer. Then the police Officer went to the Station Master and brought him to the ladies compartment. He saw "Yogiraj" sitting in the ladies compartment. The station master requested police officer that Shri Maharaj be permitted to travel in that compartment, as he was a great saint, unlikely to commit any offence. Thereupon the police officer said that he had already sent a telegram to his higher officer and nothing was left in his hands, so he may do whatever he liked. Thereupon the station officer, as a mark of respect, took out his cap, and most humbly requested Shri Maharaj to come out of the compartment to respect the law. Subsequently a case was filed against Shri Maharaj as per law. It was put for hearing in the court of Shri Jathar, who fixed the date for proceeding at Shegaon. He came to Shegaon and stayed at the rest house for the hearing of the case. Venkatrao Desai of Akola also happened to come to Shegaon on that day for some other work. Hearing the announcement of the case, lot of people gathered at the rest house. Shri Desai enquired from Shri Jathar about the case which made so many people to gather there. Shri Jathar was surprised at his ignorance and told that the case was against Shri Gajanan Maharaj for his moving out naked in public. Shri Desai felt sorry and with folded hands said, "This case is not proper. Shri Gajanan Maharaj is a great saint - the God incarnate, a divine person. He is a holy man having no bondage, a yogi of yogis respected by all. Police have committed mistake by prosecuting him and now you should correct it by withdrawing the prosecution." Shri Jathar said that the police should have thought over it before filing the case, and under the circumstances was helpless as per law. He then ordered his clerk to call Shri Gajanan Maharaj. The clerk thereupon sent one police constable to bring him to the court. The constable went and asked Shri Maharaj to accompany him and further threatened to take him forcibly if resisted. Shri Maharaj refused to go and challenged the Javan to take him by force. Saying so Shri Maharaj extended his hand and caught hold of the hand of the constable. The grip was so tight that the blood flow in his hand was obstructed, making the constable uncomfortable with pain. As the Javan did not turn up, Shri Jathar sent Venkatrao Desai to bring Shri Maharaj and ordered people around to disperse. Shri Desai got information about the plight of the constable on reaching there, and asked the devotees to put on clothes to Shri Maharaj. So Shri Maharaj was made to wear dhoti, but he threw it away on way to Rest house and went naked to the court. Shri Jathar respectfully received Shri Maharaj and offered him a chair to sit. Shri Jathar said to Shri Maharaj, "It is not proper to move out naked in the town as it is against law. So I request you not to move out naked." Shri Maharaj smilingly replied, "How are you concerned with that ? Fill up tobacco in my pipe and don't give any importance to such things." Hearing this Shri Jathar just melted and realized that he was far above the ways of material world, a Vrushab Dev of Bhagwati, A Shukachrya or an incarnation of Namdeo. He saw his blissful mental attitude and realized the state of liberation attained by Shri Maharaj and as such, Shri Jathar thought, that "This saint cannot be charged of any offence. Fire cannot be void of its fiery element, so it has got to be kept in a safe bowl. Otherwise it can burn the entire house. In such case the fire cannot be blamed for what it does. Likewise the nakedness of Shri Maharaj is similar to the fire and his disciples are guilty for keeping him in that state, guilty of not keeping him in a bowl of clothes." Thinking so Shri Jathar ordered as follows:"Shri Gajanan Maharaj is basically a liberated soul and his proper upkeep & the responsibility of Bhaskar, who has neglected it. So I order Bhaskar to pay a fine of five rupees." Shri Maharaj, hearing the order, asked Bhaskar to desist from doing anything against his will, in future. Bhaskar kept quiet. But all the devotees decided to avoid train journey for Shri Maharaj thereafter, and accordingly bullock car was used for his travel. Once Shri Maharaj came to Akola and stayed at the house of Bapurao. At the time there lived a muslim saint named Mehtabshah at Kurum near Murtizapur He had told Bapurao to inform him when Shri Gajanan Maharaj came to Akola Accordingly Bapurao sent a man to Kurum to inform Mehtabshah about this arrival of Shri Gajanan Maharaj. But it so happened that Shri Mehtabshah ha already started for Akola and this messenger sent by Bapurao met him on was Seeing that man he said, "Don't go to Kurum, come and sit in our cart. I am Mehtabshah." Look, how one saint knows the movements of other saint! They are really omnipotent. Mehtabshah was accompanied by 3-4 muslim devotees and all o them stayed at Bapurao's house. Next morning Shri Gajanan Maharaj came to the room where Shri Mehetabshah was staying and catching his hair gave Mehtabshah a good beating. His intention of doing so was to convey that the birth in Muslim community was being wasted as the roughness, peculiar to that community, still existed in him and the same could come in his way of sell realization. Shri Maharaj wanted Mehatbshah to justify his name by keeping away the darkness of malice. In beating him Shri Maharaj hinted that Mehtabshab was not free from malice. Saints understand each others mind. So, Shri Mehatabshah was happy to get, the hint. When Shri Maharaj was beatinç Mahatabshah the accompanying muslim devotees were agitated but Shri Mehatabshah asked them to keep quiet and go back to Kurum in their own interest. Except Sikh. Kadu all others left for Kurum. At that time Seth Bachchula came invited Shri Maharaj for meals at his place next day. Next day, Shri Maharaj was taken in a "Tanga" to Bachulal's house for meals. But on reaching there he did not get down and asked the Tanga to be taken back. All were surprised at his action, specially because he had accepted the invitation previous day. One intelligent man amongst them, suggested that ii might be, because Shri Mehtabshah was not invited along with him. Sc they went and invited Mehatabshah. The both of them came in the same Tanga to Bachuchulal's house. Shri Mehatabshaha's stay was arranged in the nearby theatre and of Shri Maharaj in the Shri Ram Temple, but subsequently Shri Maharaj also went to the theatre. All took their meal and then Shri Mahatabasha told his disciples to get him a ticket for going to Punjab. Skh Kadu requested Shri Mehatabshah to leave Kurum, only after completing the construction of the mosque, which was half built. Thereupon he said, "I got orders from Shri Gajanan Maharaj for going to Punjab, so I must g without any delay. I tell you the truth that the work of the mosque will be completed by the grace of Shri Gajanan Maharaj. Saints do not believe in difference of religions and they treat all the religions equal. The fads of mosque and religions, if given undue importance, will ruin all of you. Both the same material builds the temple and mosques, and to fight because of their different shapes is foolish. Do you mean to say that only muslims belong t God and Hindus to ghosts? Think wisely in the interest of all humanity Remember that the same God creates both Hindus and Muslims. One should love his own religion, but also respect that of others. Without such thinking, happiness will be far away. Now go. The mosque will be completed by the grace of Shri Gajanan Maharaj.' Shri Mehatabshah went away and never returned thereafter. Both Hindus and Muslims should give a thought to this advices. Look, even though Shri Maharaj beat Shri Mehatabshah, his heart was full of love for him. There was no malice at all. Shri Maharaj did not go take meals without Mehatabshah. All should think over this aspect. The wife of Shri Bapurao came under the spell of Bhanamati. In a moment sh used to get Kunku on her forehead, next moment a rope round her neck and a times her clothes used to glow with fire. Some times she used to get black scars on her back and her clothes spread for drying used to catch fire. Such mysterious and maddening happenings had affected her health. She lost test for food and consequently became very weak. Bapurao had spent lot of money for her cure but to no effect. At last, and as a last resort, he surrendered to Shri Gajanan Maharaj and with folded hands said, "Maharaj, my wife is suffering from Bhanamati, I tried my best to get her cured but failed. I am completely fed up with the malady. How can Bhanamati enter place of your abode? How dare a fox come and shout in the lion's den? How can a stink exist in the vicinity of the musk fragrance?" Hearing this, Shri Maharaj glanced at Bapurao's wife and her Bhanamati vanished. Once in his wanderings Shri Maharaj reached Akot to meet Shri Narsinghji-his brother saint. There was a well near his 'math'. Shri Maharaj went and sat on its parapet with his legs hanging inside. He was constantly looking in the well. All were surprised to see him do like that and Narsinghji even asked him the reason for doing so. Shri Maharaj said, "See Godavari, Bhagirathi and Yamuna in the well, and want to find out which other holy rivers are there alongwith them. When you are daily getting their waters for you bath, why should I be denied that pleasure? These rivers must come out and give me holy bath today, and I will not leave this place till they do so." Hearing him say so, people thought that he was really mad to except such things to happen. But a moment later, the well water came up gushing like fountain and poured on Shri Maharaj. He called upon all people to come and join him for taking bath in the holy waters of Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari and a other rivers. Believers went and took holy bath with Shri Maharaj. God Almighty always fulfils the wishes of saints. After the bath Shri Maharaj went away, and the fountain of water withdrew, taking the water in the well to its original level Shri Maharaj met Shri Narsinghji and went away to Shegaon with the mind's speed. May this Gajanan Vijay epic, Sung by Shri Dasganu, prove a savior to all devotees. "SHUBHAM BHA VA TU" Here ends the chapter Seventeen

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