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 - 3Shri Ganeshayanamah! O Sachhidananda Shri Hari, be kind to me as You have never been harsh to the fallen ones. You are the ocean of kindness, a mother to the sufferers and Kalpataru to Your devotees. O Rama, such is Your reputation as sung by the saints. So, Purushottama, please bless this Dasganu also, without delay. Shri Gajanan Maharaj stayed at Bankatlal’s house. People from distant places started coming to Him for Darshan. Flies gather where there is honey with no invitation. Now listen to what happened one day. Shri Maharaj was sitting in a jubilant mood. It was morning time. Eastern horizon was red and birds were singing. Soft breeze was blowing and old people, sitting in their beds, were chanting God’s name. The sun peeping up of from the east drove away the darkness. Pious married ladies were sprinkling water in their courtyard and calves were running to the cows. At such a pleasant morning time, an ascetic came for the Darshan of Shri Gajanan Maharaj. With his worn out clothes he was looking like a beggar. How can such a beggarly looking person expect good reception from the rich people sitting around Shri Maharaj? He had a small loincloth, a kerchief around his head and a small bag hanging from his shoulder. His dry disorderly hair was hanging on his back. He quietly sat in one corner before Shri Gajanan. Amongst many people coming for the Darshan of Shri Maharaj, this poor man was totally neglected. Sitting there, he was wondering as to how to get near Shri Gajanan to touch His feet. Having heard of the greatness of Shri Gajanan at Kashi, he had vowed to present Ganja to Shri Maharaj. In the first place, now he was finding it difficult to get a chance to fulfil his vow, and if at all he got a chance, the utterance of the word Ganja in the temple would make him face kicks from the people around. But after all, his coming to Shri Gajanan was only for the fulfilment of the vow of offering Ganja to Shri Maharaj. His vow of offering Ganja was because he liked it the most and so he thought it to be the best offering. While he was thinking so, Shri Gajanan understood and pointing to him asked the devotees to bring forth that ascetic to him. He was happy to see that Shri Gajanan knew everything that was going on in his mind. Saints know everything of the past, present and future. So he now expected Shri Gajanan to know the purpose of his coming to Shegaon. When he was brought-forth, Shri Maharaj said, “Take Out that bundle which you have been keeping in your bag for last three months.” Overwhelmed with joy, the ascetic started rolling like a child before Shri Maharaj. Maharaj said, “Shamelessly you vowed to offer Ganja to me and now feel shy to take it out of your bag.” The shrewd ascetic said that he would take it out and offer Ganja with a request that Shri Maharaj, as a token of his remembrance, accept the offering permanently. He further said, “I know that You don’t need Ganja, but kindly accept it as my humble offering. God fulfills all the desires of devotees. For example, Anjani prayed to Lord Shiva to come to her womb and take birth as her child. Lord Shiva accepted and took birth as Maharudra Hanuman. Taking the form of a monkey was accepted by Lord Shiva to fulfil the desire of His devotee. Shri Gajanan hesitated a bit but then agreed. The ascetic then took out Ganja, rubbed it in his hand, filled in the pipe and gave it to Shri Maharaj to smoke. This is how Shri Gajanan started smoking Ganja; but He never became an addict to it. Just like a lotus leaf he was free from attachments. The ascetic stayed there for a few days and then went away to Rameshwar. Some-times Shri Maharaj used to recite Vedic verses in sweet clear tones, and at times observed silence. His Reciting of the Vedas indicated that He was a Brahmin. Sometimes he used to sing a composition in different “ragas” or go on singing His Mantra, “Gan Gan Ganat Bote”. At other times He observed silence or quietly slept. Some-times He behaved like a mad man, or wandered in the jungles or entered somebody’s house unexpectedly. At Shegaon there was a famous man by name Janrao Deshmukh. He was on deathbed and all the doctors declared him to be as a hopeless case, and accordingly notified his relatives the sad news. They prayed to God, took vows in exchange of his life to God but to no avail. So they thought of the last remedy i.e. of approaching Shri Gajanan Maharaj with the belief that saints can perform any miracle. Shri Dnyaneshwar brought Sachhidananda back to life, and the same can be done by Shri Gajanan for Janrao. So one of the relatives went to the house of Bankatlal, where Shri Gajanan was staying, and narrating the whole story of Janrao requested him to give “Pada Tirtha” of Shri Gajanan which they would give to Janrao Deshmukh. Shri Bankatlal with the permission of his father Bhavaniram, took a glass of water touched it to the feet of Shri Maharaj and told Him that the Tirtha was being given to Janrao Deshmukh. Shri Gajanan Maharaj gave His consent. Thereafter the Tirtha was given to Janrao Deshmukh who immediately regained consciousness and thereafter slowly recovered from the illness. All the medicines were stopped and Janrao was kept on a daily dose of the Tirtha from the feet of Shri Maharaj. He gained his normal health within a week and went to Shri Bhavaniram’s house for the Darshan of Shri Gajanan Maharaj. Look, the water from the feet of Shri Maharaj had the effect of life saving nectar. This is so because the saints are the God incarnates in “Kalyuga”. With such a happening one may say that no body should die in Shegaon so long as Shri Gajanan Maharaj is there. This statement however, is not logical. Saints do not prevent death, nor do they behave against the laws of the nature. But they can avoid a death if it is unnatural or accidental. Shri Dnyaneshwar avoided the death of Shri Sachhidananda at Newasha but the same Sachhidananda later on had to die at Alandi. That means, the saints can check unnatural or accidental death and it is not at all difficult for them. There are three types of deaths namely, Adhyatmic (subjective) meaning natural or destined, Adhibhoutic (Phenomenal) means by material effects and Adhidaivic (God sent) means accidental or un-natural. Of all these three, the first is most powerful and no body can avoid it. The second i.e. Adhibhoutic death is the result of bad eating and living habits and an undisciplined life style which gives rise to various diseases in the body. But this type of death can be averted with the help of a competent doctor. The third i.e. Adhidaivic death can be prevented by prayers and blessings of Saints. This category again is divided into two types, namely Bhoutic cause by material effect and the other is Daivic caused by not pleasuring God. Adhyatmic i.e. the natural death cannot be prevented by anybody. Remember that Abhimanyu, the son of Arjuna, died in the presence of Shri Krishna Himself. Janrao’s death was of an un-natural type and so could be prevented by Shri Gajanan Maharaj. Some deaths can be averted by vows of offerings to God. But it should be done with full faith in the Almighty. In fact it is the strength of the faith involved itself that works to prevent the unnatural type of death. This sort of death can also be avoided by the “Pada Tirtha” of a saint who is pious and free from the six hostile forces of life. One should surrender to a real saint only and keep away from the hypocrites. After his full recovery, Deshmukh celebrated the blessings by feeding hundreds of people at the “Math” where Shri Maharaj stayed. The incident of saving Deshmukh created problems for Shri Gajanan Maharaj and to avoid them, He had to become rather strict and indifferent to the people. His real devotees; however, could bear with that attitude of Shri Maharaj. God Narsinha, by His very appearance created terror in the minds of people, but Pralhad was not afraid of that outward look. Tigress is fearful for others but not to her cubs playing in her lap. Likewise the real devotees were not afraid of the strictness shown by Shri Maharaj. Now listen to another story. It is seen that the earth when in contact with musk gets its fragrance. Similarly by mere contact of sandal wood and ordinary wood also gets its fragrance. This is quite natural, but it will be absurd if the wood thinks itself to be sandalwood. Along with the Sugarcane also grows some useless bushes. Saints and Satan both are born on the same earth. Along with the diamonds are found ordinary pebbles too in the mines. Though found in one place they differ in their values. Ordinary pebble cannot get the lustre of diamonds and they will simply be trampled under our feet and the diamonds picked up. Vithoba Ghatol, like above pebble, a hypocrite, was staying with Shri Gajanan Maharaj at Shegaon. He was dishonest and insincere, but showing off as if a great devotee. He used to call himself “Kalyan” of Shri Maharaj, and said that Shri Gajanan depended for everything, i.e. food, pipe and other comforts, on him. He was taking all sorts of advantages by his association with Shri Maharaj and boasted himself to be a bull before Lord Shiva. By his divine vision, Shri Gajanan Maharaj knew what Vithoba was doing and so taught him a lesson by following incidence. It so happened that some people come to Shegaon for the Darshan of Shri Maharaj. At that time Shri Gajanan was sleeping, and no body could dare wake Him up. These people were in hurry to go but at the same time wanted Darshan of Shri Maharaj. They approached Vithoba and said, Vithoba, we are in hurry to go back and want Darshan of Shri Maharaj before going. Amongst all the disciples you are the most intelligent, nearer and dearer to Shri Maharaj. So kindly wake him up and let us have his Darshan.”. This request flattered Vithoba and he immediately went and woke up Shri Maharaj. People got Darshan but it invited calamity for Vithoba. Shri Gajanan got a stick and thrashed Vithoba severely with it and said, You rascal, you have started business here, and if I tolerate you, I shall be guilty before God. So I must punish you: Wine should not be treated as sweet drink, poison should not be touched, and thieves should not be made friends”. Saying so, He knocked him again with the stick. Vithoba ran away and never returned again. This is how the real saints behave. Hypocrites pose as saints, with the help of selfish people, and misguide the public. This is an antisocial act. Real saints will always try to eliminate such elements from the society. A chaste lady will not like a prostitute as a neighbour. Gold will not like the ornaments of aluminium. Saints may accept bad people but will not give them importance. It is so because the saints realise that these people are sufferers because of their sins of previous life. It is just like the earth, which allows a prickly-pear also to grow along with Mogra. Mogra and prickly-pear are both the children of earth but they get different treatment. So also the saints will offer protection to all but have different values to individuals. Vithoba was most unfortunate. He got the touch of the Saints feet but unfortunately lost the same. He failed to understand the greatness of the saint. Had he realised it, he would have attained divine pleasure. By sitting under “Kalpavriksha” he desired for an ordinary pebble or asked for a coconut shell from Kamdhenu. No body, in association with saint, should do like this. May this Gajanan Vijay Granth be a saviour to all devotees. “SHUBHAM BHA VATU” Here ends of Chapter Three. Shri Ganeshayanamah! O Sachhidananda Shri Hari, be kind to me as You have never been harsh to the fallen ones. You are the ocean of kindness, a mother to the sufferers and Kalpataru to Your devotees. O Rama, such is Your reputation as sung by the saints. So, Purushottama, please bless this Dasganu also, without delay. Shri Gajanan Maharaj stayed at Bankatlal’s house. People from distant places started coming to Him for Darshan. Flies gather where there is honey with no invitation. Now listen to what happened one day. Shri Maharaj was sitting in a jubilant mood. It was morning time. Eastern horizon was red and birds were singing. Soft breeze was blowing and old people, sitting in their beds, were chanting God’s name. The sun peeping up of from the east drove away the darkness. Pious married ladies were sprinkling water in their courtyard and calves were running to the cows. At such a pleasant morning time, an ascetic came for the Darshan of Shri Gajanan Maharaj. With his worn out clothes he was looking like a beggar. How can such a beggarly looking person expect good reception from the rich people sitting around Shri Maharaj? He had a small loincloth, a kerchief around his head and a small bag hanging from his shoulder. His dry disorderly hair was hanging on his back. He quietly sat in one corner before Shri Gajanan. Amongst many people coming for the Darshan of Shri Maharaj, this poor man was totally neglected. Sitting there, he was wondering as to how to get near Shri Gajanan to touch His feet. Having heard of the greatness of Shri Gajanan at Kashi, he had vowed to present Ganja to Shri Maharaj. In the first place, now he was finding it difficult to get a chance to fulfil his vow, and if at all he got a chance, the utterance of the word Ganja in the temple would make him face kicks from the people around. But after all, his coming to Shri Gajanan was only for the fulfilment of the vow of offering Ganja to Shri Maharaj. His vow of offering Ganja was because he liked it the most and so he thought it to be the best offering. While he was thinking so, Shri Gajanan understood and pointing to him asked the devotees to bring forth that ascetic to him. He was happy to see that Shri Gajanan knew everything that was going on in his mind. Saints know everything of the past, present and future. So he now expected Shri Gajanan to know the purpose of his coming to Shegaon. When he was brought-forth, Shri Maharaj said, “Take Out that bundle which you have been keeping in your bag for last three months.” Overwhelmed with joy, the ascetic started rolling like a child before Shri Maharaj. Maharaj said, “Shamelessly you vowed to offer Ganja to me and now feel shy to take it out of your bag.” The shrewd ascetic said that he would take it out and offer Ganja with a request that Shri Maharaj, as a token of his remembrance, accept the offering permanently. He further said, “I know that You don’t need Ganja, but kindly accept it as my humble offering. God fulfills all the desires of devotees. For example, Anjani prayed to Lord Shiva to come to her womb and take birth as her child. Lord Shiva accepted and took birth as Maharudra Hanuman. Taking the form of a monkey was accepted by Lord Shiva to fulfil the desire of His devotee. Shri Gajanan hesitated a bit but then agreed. The ascetic then took out Ganja, rubbed it in his hand, filled in the pipe and gave it to Shri Maharaj to smoke. This is how Shri Gajanan started smoking Ganja; but He never became an addict to it. Just like a lotus leaf he was free from attachments. The ascetic stayed there for a few days and then went away to Rameshwar. Some-times Shri Maharaj used to recite Vedic verses in sweet clear tones, and at times observed silence. His Reciting of the Vedas indicated that He was a Brahmin. Sometimes he used to sing a composition in different “ragas” or go on singing His Mantra, “Gan Gan Ganat Bote”. At other times He observed silence or quietly slept. Some-times He behaved like a mad man, or wandered in the jungles or entered somebody’s house unexpectedly. At Shegaon there was a famous man by name Janrao Deshmukh. He was on deathbed and all the doctors declared him to be as a hopeless case, and accordingly notified his relatives the sad news. They prayed to God, took vows in exchange of his life to God but to no avail. So they thought of the last remedy i.e. of approaching Shri Gajanan Maharaj with the belief that saints can perform any miracle. Shri Dnyaneshwar brought Sachhidananda back to life, and the same can be done by Shri Gajanan for Janrao. So one of the relatives went to the house of Bankatlal, where Shri Gajanan was staying, and narrating the whole story of Janrao requested him to give “Pada Tirtha” of Shri Gajanan which they would give to Janrao Deshmukh. Shri Bankatlal with the permission of his father Bhavaniram, took a glass of water touched it to the feet of Shri Maharaj and told Him that the Tirtha was being given to Janrao Deshmukh. Shri Gajanan Maharaj gave His consent. Thereafter the Tirtha was given to Janrao Deshmukh who immediately regained consciousness and thereafter slowly recovered from the illness. All the medicines were stopped and Janrao was kept on a daily dose of the Tirtha from the feet of Shri Maharaj. He gained his normal health within a week and went to Shri Bhavaniram’s house for the Darshan of Shri Gajanan Maharaj. Look, the water from the feet of Shri Maharaj had the effect of life saving nectar. This is so because the saints are the God incarnates in “Kalyuga”. With such a happening one may say that no body should die in Shegaon so long as Shri Gajanan Maharaj is there. This statement however, is not logical. Saints do not prevent death, nor do they behave against the laws of the nature. But they can avoid a death if it is unnatural or accidental. Shri Dnyaneshwar avoided the death of Shri Sachhidananda at Newasha but the same Sachhidananda later on had to die at Alandi. That means, the saints can check unnatural or accidental death and it is not at all difficult for them. There are three types of deaths namely, Adhyatmic (subjective) meaning natural or destined, Adhibhoutic (Phenomenal) means by material effects and Adhidaivic (God sent) means accidental or un-natural. Of all these three, the first is most powerful and no body can avoid it. The second i.e. Adhibhoutic death is the result of bad eating and living habits and an undisciplined life style which gives rise to various diseases in the body. But this type of death can be averted with the help of a competent doctor. The third i.e. Adhidaivic death can be prevented by prayers and blessings of Saints. This category again is divided into two types, namely Bhoutic cause by material effect and the other is Daivic caused by not pleasuring God. Adhyatmic i.e. the natural death cannot be prevented by anybody. Remember that Abhimanyu, the son of Arjuna, died in the presence of Shri Krishna Himself. Janrao’s death was of an un-natural type and so could be prevented by Shri Gajanan Maharaj. Some deaths can be averted by vows of offerings to God. But it should be done with full faith in the Almighty. In fact it is the strength of the faith involved itself that works to prevent the unnatural type of death. This sort of death can also be avoided by the “Pada Tirtha” of a saint who is pious and free from the six hostile forces of life. One should surrender to a real saint only and keep away from the hypocrites. After his full recovery, Deshmukh celebrated the blessings by feeding hundreds of people at the “Math” where Shri Maharaj stayed. The incident of saving Deshmukh created problems for Shri Gajanan Maharaj and to avoid them, He had to become rather strict and indifferent to the people. His real devotees; however, could bear with that attitude of Shri Maharaj. God Narsinha, by His very appearance created terror in the minds of people, but Pralhad was not afraid of that outward look. Tigress is fearful for others but not to her cubs playing in her lap. Likewise the real devotees were not afraid of the strictness shown by Shri Maharaj. Now listen to another story. It is seen that the earth when in contact with musk gets its fragrance. Similarly by mere contact of sandal wood and ordinary wood also gets its fragrance. This is quite natural, but it will be absurd if the wood thinks itself to be sandalwood. Along with the Sugarcane also grows some useless bushes. Saints and Satan both are born on the same earth. Along with the diamonds are found ordinary pebbles too in the mines. Though found in one place they differ in their values. Ordinary pebble cannot get the lustre of diamonds and they will simply be trampled under our feet and the diamonds picked up. Vithoba Ghatol, like above pebble, a hypocrite, was staying with Shri Gajanan Maharaj at Shegaon. He was dishonest and insincere, but showing off as if a great devotee. He used to call himself “Kalyan” of Shri Maharaj, and said that Shri Gajanan depended for everything, i.e. food, pipe and other comforts, on him. He was taking all sorts of advantages by his association with Shri Maharaj and boasted himself to be a bull before Lord Shiva. By his divine vision, Shri Gajanan Maharaj knew what Vithoba was doing and so taught him a lesson by following incidence. It so happened that some people come to Shegaon for the Darshan of Shri Maharaj. At that time Shri Gajanan was sleeping, and no body could dare wake Him up. These people were in hurry to go but at the same time wanted Darshan of Shri Maharaj. They approached Vithoba and said, Vithoba, we are in hurry to go back and want Darshan of Shri Maharaj before going. Amongst all the disciples you are the most intelligent, nearer and dearer to Shri Maharaj. So kindly wake him up and let us have his Darshan.”. This request flattered Vithoba and he immediately went and woke up Shri Maharaj. People got Darshan but it invited calamity for Vithoba. Shri Gajanan got a stick and thrashed Vithoba severely with it and said, You rascal, you have started business here, and if I tolerate you, I shall be guilty before God. So I must punish you: Wine should not be treated as sweet drink, poison should not be touched, and thieves should not be made friends”. Saying so, He knocked him again with the stick. Vithoba ran away and never returned again. This is how the real saints behave. Hypocrites pose as saints, with the help of selfish people, and misguide the public. This is an antisocial act. Real saints will always try to eliminate such elements from the society. A chaste lady will not like a prostitute as a neighbour. Gold will not like the ornaments of aluminium. Saints may accept bad people but will not give them importance. It is so because the saints realise that these people are sufferers because of their sins of previous life. It is just like the earth, which allows a prickly-pear also to grow along with Mogra. Mogra and prickly-pear are both the children of earth but they get different treatment. So also the saints will offer protection to all but have different values to individuals. Vithoba was most unfortunate. He got the touch of the Saints feet but unfortunately lost the same. He failed to understand the greatness of the saint. Had he realised it, he would have attained divine pleasure. By sitting under “Kalpavriksha” he desired for an ordinary pebble or asked for a coconut shell from Kamdhenu. No body, in association with saint, should do like this. May this Gajanan Vijay Granth be a saviour to all devotees. “SHUBHAM BHAVATU” Here ends of Chapter Three.

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