ॐ श्री 卐

|| Shri Shankar ||

Modern day Mahipati, Saint Poet, Shri Dasaganu Maharaj is well known in Maharashtra as a lucid, witty and predominantly devotional Kirtan performer. He was blessed with a very long life from 1868 A.D. to 1962 A.D. The treasure of his literary contribution comprising over one and half lakh verses (owis) titled ‘Complete Literature of Saint Poet Shri Dasaganu Maharaj’ (Santakavi Shri Dasaganu Maharaj Samagra Vangmay) is very well known. This literature is indeed rich in the feeling of loving devotional faith and yet his social awareness is specifically apparent. Saints have consistently maintained moral courage of the society; Dasaganu Maharaj has done precisely the same. His emphasis was on nurturing good moral conduct and righteous thinking. While using Kirtan as a medium of mass communication, he not only reached every corner of entire Maharashtra, but he also attained mass awakening by way of his Kirtan performances at several places like Baroda, Indore, Ujjain, Chennai etc. where there is significant number of Marathi speaking population. As his literary creations display social awareness as a special characteristic, literary beauty and other qualities are also strikingly visible. His ingenious narrative anecdotes are indeed unparalleled. His development of literary sentiment is excellent. Further, his linguistic style is rich with literary ornaments like parable, simile, ironic comparison etc. He came to Nanded because of the directive of Satguru Sri Saibaba. His Kirtan performances comprising anecdotes flooded with devotion mesmerized one and all.

Respected Anandibai Gopalrao Deshmukh, revered as if their own mother by the entire populace of Gorte (Umari) town, persuaded Shri Dasaganu Maharaj to come to Gorte. Maharaj found the pleasant environment and quiet atmosphere in the small village of Gorte very much to his liking. Then onwards he started visiting there almost every year. He used to stay at Gorte for considerably long duration. As a result of ever increasing love of the devotees and generosity of Respected Anandibai, Gorte became a permanent place of residence for Shri Dasaganu Maharaj.

The rich tradition of Shri Dasaganu Maharaj was carried on further by his disciple Principal Anant Damodar Athavale (Revered Appa). He is now known as Swami Varadanand Bharati.

Shri Dasaganu Maharaj had a very large number of devotees, followers and admirers. The same inheritance was ably carried forward by Principal Athavale; further, he continued the pious observance in a determined manner. He also created treatises of high caliber. He has written expository commentaries on the trilogy of ancient Indian philosophy (Prasthanatraya) – the Brahmasutras, the Upanishadas and the Bhagvadgeeta. Further, he has also vehemently opposed erroneous objections and charges made by self styled experts against the Hindu culture with his efficacious oratory, fitting and accurate logical arguments supported by well founded evidences. His Kirtan performances comprising anecdotes flooded with devotion and proverbial slaps on the faces of self styled critics have delivered fresh vision for looking at saints and their literature. He has published the entire literary contributions of Saint Poet Shri Dasaganu Maharaj. This is his great gift to the Marathi literature. Even ordinary common man gets a fresh vision from his literature for looking at human life. Shri Dasaganu Maharaj has meticulously carried forward this responsibility of Saints; Principal Athavale has taken it further ahead.

In view of insistence of several senior devotees in the family of pious guide (Sanguru) and also keeping in mind that remembering Shri Dasaganu Maharaj every day is indeed inspiration and energy for attainment of future aims and objectives of the foundation, Revered Appa organized creation of the garment sanctuary (Vastrasamadhi) of Satguru Dasaganu Maharaj at Shrikshetra Gorte. The foundation titled ‘Shrimatsatguru Shri Dasaganu Maharaj Pratishthan’ was formally registered as a public trust in 1974, the Board of Trustees was constituted, and thus the foundation became functional. Right from its initiation, Revered Appa insisted that this place should not become a mere tourist site, but it must become a nodal center for propitiation, meditation and worship (Sadhana). Hence it has become a focal point for attainment of peace of mind for human souls frustrated in their worldly life, center of energy guiding youngsters in their life on appropriate path aimed at national welfare inspired by patriotic thoughts, and an excellent center of meditation providing comforting assurance and strength to the devotees in the path of propitiation (Sadhanamarga) for their appropriate and definitive progress. This place has now attained fame as an excellent meditation center in Maharashtra.

Revered Appa had organized the entire management and administration of the foundation at Gorte in an exemplary manner. Having behaved in a disinterested ascetic attitude throughout his lifetime, Revered Appa abandoned all these worldly matters in a detached manner. With a view to fulfill the desire of his pious guide (Satguru), he actually undertook the religious observances of asceticism (Sanyasa Deeksha Grahan) at Kailasashram, Utter Kashi. In his fourth stage of the life of a person (Chaturthashram) he assumed the title, ‘Swami Varadananda Bharati’.

Being a charitable trust, in order to meet expenses donations are accepted in the foundation and are formally acknowledged with a receipt. Donations in kind in the form of some article / equipment / instrument are also accepted; however the name of the donor is not mentioned in any form. The purpose behind this protocol is that the donation should not be in the form of some exhibit; it should be given with an egoless attitude.

A free medical store – ‘Bhagwat Aushadhalay’ – is run on behalf of ‘Shri Dasaganu Maharaj Pratishthan’ in the premises of the foundation. There is a huge open hall (Sabhamandap) for Kirtan performances. Devotees are provided simple lodging facility in the rooms – ‘Manas Vihar’ – which is situated behind the main temple. There are two small temples of Shri Vitthal-Rukmini and Shri Shanidev in the same premises.

Following activities are carried out at the foundation.

1. Daily religious rituals, worship and religious bathing (Abhishek) of the shrine.
2. Free food (Annachhatra) – Providing free food to devotees coming for meditation.
3. Festivals – Organization of birth and death anniversaries of saints.
4. Health section – Manufacturing medicines, diagnosis and free medical treatment of ailments, diseases etc.
5. Building section – Completion of plans of building construction.
6. Literature section – Publication of literary creations of Saint Poet Shri Dasaganu Maharaj and Swami Varadanand Bharati.
7. Stable for Cattle (cows) section – GOU Shala of cows and calves of Indian race.

Shri Radha-Damodar Pratishthan (http://www.radhadamodar.org/) – This foundation has also been formally registered. The principal aim of this foundation is publish literary creations of Saint Shri Dasaganu Maharaj and Principal Anant Damodar Athavale (Swami Varadanand Bharati). Every year, on the occasion of anniversary of the heavenly abode (Punyatithi) of Shri Dasaganu Maharaj, this foundation declares award in the name of Shri Dasaganu Maharaj honoring distinguished work (Puraskar) to a person or an institution carrying out excellent work in spirituality (Dharmakarya), patriotism (Deshakarya) and strengthening and prosperity of Indian culture (Sanskriti Samvardhan). Another branch titled ‘Santavidya Prabodhini’ has been created under the auspices of this foundation. Both these organizations are sister institutions of the above foundation titled ‘Shri Dasaganu Maharaj Pratishthan’.

!! I perpetually bow to Samarth Ganudas !!