Perfect Masters - Shankar Maharaj of Pune Part 05

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Shankar Maharaj was a Perfect Master in the tradition

of Nath Siddhas. Different stories are told about the

birth and early life of Shankar Maharaj. But the

following story of his birth and initiation by his

guru appears to be most authentic, having been told by

Maharaj himself to his prime disciple Dr. Nagesh

Dhaneshwar of Nagar, about 200 kms from Pune.

 

Once Dr. Dhaneshwar asked Maharaj his age. Instead of

answering, he asked him to judge his age from physical

examination since he was a medical doctor. Dr.

Dhaneshwar judged his age to be more than 125 years.

Maharaj agreed with him and told him that he was born

in about 1800 at Mangalwedha (near Pandharpur) in the

family named Upasani. He used to be a very naughty as

a boy. Once, when he was seven to eight years old, he

went chasing a deer. The deer entered the forests on

the banks of the river Chandrabhaga towards a place

called Machnur.He followed it and soon reached a Shiva

temple. When he was about to shoot the arrow a large

sanyasi came, lifted the deer and held it in his arms

..He said “My child, why do you kill the innocent

animals? If you want to hunt, hunt wild animals, but

don’t kill this” nevertheless he shot the arrow at the

deer in the sanyasi’s arms. It hit him but became

blunt and fell down. Another arrow also met the same

fate. he become confused but the sanyasi smiled, kept

the deer down, came near and fondled him. Thus Maharaj

got “ Sparshdiksha” or initiation by touch of the

Yogi, who was no other than Swami Samarth of Akkalkot.

Maharaj stayed with him for six months during which he

gave him all knowledge and instructed him to go on

pilgrimage.

 

He went to the Himalayas where he did a very hard

penance .On returning from there he spent his time

with Siddha-Yogis in and around Vriddheshwar (near

Nagar) which is known as the center for meditation of

several Nath Siddhas in the past. Maharaj remembered

having received Dakshina from Peshwas hands in

Shanniwarwada in Pune, the seat of Peshwas rule. After

the British took over Pune, he met a British Collector

who developed a faith in Maharaj and considered him

his Spiritual guide. He took Maharaj to England where

he stayed for ten years teaching the yoga path to this

British officer.

 

Being asked by Dr. Dhaneshwar whether this is how he

is able to speak such good English, he said, “ No

Doctor, he who understand the principle which is

beyond the source of all languages and who becomes one

with it, knows any language, even the language of

animals and birds. He becomes the energy itself

therefore he is able to decipher the vibration. I

understand the English language perfectly .I have read

complete Shakespeare .He had rich experiences of life.

Among his plays, I Like Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello and

Romeo-Juliet.”

 

One can surmise therefore that at the time of samadhi

Maharaj was about 150 years old.

 

It is not clear when Maharaj came to Maharastra, Pune

in particular. From the biography of Dr. Dhaneshwar

who was born in 1899, it is seen that Maharaj met him

at Nagar when he was a schoolboy, that must have been

around 1910 when Maharaj was already past hundred .He

used to move frequently between Nagar, Pune, Solapur

and Akluj, also visiting in places with Shri

Dattatreya influence like Gangapur, Narsobawadi,

Mahurgad and Girnar.Wherever he went he attracted

devotees.

 

In appearance Maharaj is described as ‘Ashtavakra’ or

bent in eight places. Maharaj had a short stature, but

was ajunubahu or having long hands reaching below his

knees. Most noticeable were his large and bright eyes

and a child like expression on his face.

 

In later years he had a beard .He often had a brandy

bottle in his hand and a hunter whip with him. He used

to address people by the swear words, but without

malice. It was believed that if Maharaj rebuked

anybody he got rid of misfortunes. He used to talk

with lisp which was due to his unusually long tongue.

The immense kindness and compassion of Maharaj were

consistent with his being a Nath Panthi in the Guru

tradition.

 

According to what Dr. Dhaneshwar told " The aim of a

Nath Panthi is to help people without bothering about

his own personal liberation. Because of the compassion

for all living, he takes birth again and again all

over the earth in all communities and not necessarily

ordained as a Nath Panthi during that birth. It is

because of such selfless liberated souls that the

fabric of human society is maintained. "

 

Maharaj did not stay long at any single place. He used

to move from devotee to devotee. He was fond of

smoking honeydew (popularly known as Pilo hatthi)

cigrattes. He was also fond of drinking brandy and

appeared to be often intoxicated. He used to like the

scent (attar) of hina and loved music.

 

Maharaj used to drink with a purpose. His drunken

appearance helped him in keeping unwanted people away.

Only those people who saw Maharaj beyond the external

looks could come to him. There are instances when

Maharaj drank and another person nearby got drunk.

Some people to whom Maharaj gave a brandy glass and

asked them to drink it told later it was not liquor

but nice tasting coconut water. Maharaj was fond of

wearing rings and jewels but he could throw them or

give to others easily.

 

The life of Shankar Maharaj has been full of miracles

he performed to help his devotees. Such miracles are

associated with many Yogis. The miracle includes the

knowledge of past and future events, creation of

matter going from one place to another instantly,

being at several places at the one time, feeding a

multitude from the small quantity of food and so on.

Maharaj did these miracles to instill faith in them

and to draw people to spiritual path. Maharaj had

said, " I am a slave of the simple and teach lessons to

the scoundrels. I am the blotting paper of egotistic

persons. I cannot tolerate ego. I suck it out. "

 

Maharaj had large number of devotees and disciples

world over. Dr Dhaneshwar, Maj. Abhyankar and his son

Dattareya , Raobahadur Navale from all from Nagar; G.K

Pradhan and Keshavbhai Asher from Mumbai, Raosaheb

Mehendale and his wife Taisaheb, Vasudev Pandit,

Baburao Rudra, Mamasaheb Dhekane, Yellubahi and Gosavi

all from Pune, Mr.Girme and Mr. Vasant Kulkarni from

Akluj, are some of well known names from the large

family of disciples. Maharaj gave spiritual guidance

to millions, who are evolving spiritually under his

protection even today.

 

Dr Dhaneshwar was his principle disciple. According to

Maharaj, their association was for more than six

hundred years. Being Nath Panthis in the earlier

births also and closely connected to Gahininath.

Maharaj had shown him the place where he i.e. Dr

Dhaneshwar used to do sadhana in the caves in the

Vrishdheshwar hills near Nagar in the previous birth

..He was a very capable person and Maharaj gave him all

his knowledge. Maharaj first appeared before Dr

Dhaneshwar when the latter was a schoolboy but the

real training started just after his Graduation in

medicine. Maharaj used to visit him often and throw

things around. This used to make the doctor angry. One

Day, Maharaj scattered some importance articles here

and there. Doctor, who was under tension due to

personal worries asked Maharaj to leave and when he

did not, pushed him down the stairs. As a result of

this outburst the doctor became unconscious.

 

When the doctor recovered from unconsciousness he

found his head was on Maharaj’s lap and Maharaj was

gently caressing his head with love of a mother. At

that moment he suddenly realized the real nature of

Maharaj. He realized that the Guru’s love is deeper

than mother’s love. From that moment he completely

surrendered to Maharaj.

 

Raosaheb Balwantrao Mehendale who was a barrister and

his wife Taisaheb Mehendale were also close disciples

of Maharaj . One of his friends Sardar Mirikar was

instrumental in bringing Raosaheb to Maharaj.

 

Maharaj initiated Tai Saheb and asked her to give

discourses on Dnyaneshwari (an exposition on Geeta).

The Mehendale couple left Bombay and settled in Pune

in their ancestral house Mehendalewada at the Appa

Balwant Chowk in Pune. Spiritual programs like the

discourses, bhajans and kirtans were held in

Mehendalewada which became a center of solace for

people who were frustrated in life and needed a

relief. These discourses from Taisaheb used to impart

deeper bliss to the listeners and they used to feel

the meaning of their life being unfolded. It was as if

Shri Shankar Maharaj was speaking through her, for he

had already told that “I myself cannot give discourse.

I need some intelligent person with pure mind”

 

This incident of giving darshan of the desired deity

was unique. Sir Chunilal Mehta, once Governor of

Bombay Presidency in British Raj was a close friend of

Raosaheb Mehendale. He was a kind natured person and

scholar, well versed in both Western and Indian

literature. He used to attend the discourses in

Mehendalewada. One day he told Raosaheb that inspite

of his vast reading, travelling all over India

visiting holy places, he felt something was lacking in

his life. This was just before Taisaheb’s discourse on

Dnyaneshwari was to start. The stanzas Taisaheb had

selected that day related to seeing manifested God.

Sir Chunilal was considerably influenced and said that

he wanted to experience something like that. Raosaheb

took him next day to meet Maharaj who was at that time

in Mama Dhekne’s house. Maharaj was as usual reclining

on a cushion, laughing and talking to himself. Lady

Mehta sat with Taisaheb on ground. Sir Chunilal stood

and did namaskar to Maharaj. Raosaheb spoke to Maharaj

and told him that Sir Chunilal had come with his wife

to meet him. Maharaj first ignored him and then fixed

his eyes on Sir Chunilal who instantly went into a

deep trance, tears started flowing from his eyes. And

then Sir Chunilal ran to Maharaj and fell on his feet

making them moist with the tears. Lady Mehta was also

in a similar condition. Sir Chunilal later told that

in those moments Lord Vishnu his personal deity had

appeared before him. Sir Chunilal was still in trance

for a long time. The feeling of incompleteness left

Sir Chunilal permanently. Thereafter Sir Chunilal

continued to remain in that internal trance state. He

never went any more on pilgrimage to holy places.

 

A few months before taking samadhi Maharaj had chosen

the present site. It was a farmland owned by one Mr.

Malpani who had agreed to give him the land. A few

days before the samadhi, Maharaj told to his devotees,

who had gathered at Mama Dhekne's house, " These

clothes have become old. They must be discarded. "

everybody realized he was referring to his body and

not real clothes. He then asked them to gather there

after four days and that he would make 'khichdi' for

them. Four days later, when they gathered at Mama

Dhekne's house, Maharaj himself cooked the 'khichdi'

and distributed it. Then Maharaj said, " Dnyaneshwari

is not to be read. One must live by it. This world has

been saved only by the advice of the Saints and

Dnyaneshwari He who fills his life with Dnyaneshwari

will surely have a happy life. I have nothing more to

say. " And with that he bid good-bye to those who had

gathered, except Dr. Dhaneshwar, Gosavi, Dnyananath,

Mehendale couple, Mama and Mami Dhekne. He said, " For

Yogis and liberated persons, samadhi should be taken

at an auspicious time. This time is coming on Vaishakh

Suddha Ashtami. I am going to deposit this material

body in the ground that day. "

 

During the next ten days or so, Maharaj broke all

outside contacts. Only the usual group used to visit

him at Mama Dhekne's house. Not a word was spoken. On

the seventh day, that is the day before the samadhi,

he told Mami, " Give me just a cup of tea. Inside the

shelf spread a small mattress and keep a cushion. I am

going to take bath and sit here. I don't want to speak

a word nor meet anyone. The door should not be

opened. " And they did accordingly.

 

Mama and Mami were sitting the whole night in front of

the shelf keeping watch. At four o'clock in the

morning voice came from inside the shelf, " Make

further arrangements. Take care of this material body.

This flame of Dnyanadeo is now leaving it " .

 

It was April 24th 1947. People gathered to have a last

sight of the body of the Master. Next day around noon

the body was taken in procession to the place and by

the route indicated by Maharaj. Ground was dug at the

indicated place for the body. About five o'clock in

the evening the body was interred and in no time only

a mound of garlands was all that could be seen.

 

An unusual thing about Maharaj has been that even

after samadhi he visits his devotees Most visits have

been out of a need to save them from calamities or to

give guidance.