The Three Gurus :- of Akkalkot, Shegaon & Shirdi.

                            
                                        ||Shri Ganeshay Namaha||

Sai Baba, Shri Swami Samarth, Shri Gajanan Maharaj

 || Gurur Bramha, Gurur Vishnu  

 Gurur Devo Maheshwara

 Guruhu Sakshat Parahbramha

 Tasmai Shree Guruve Namaha ||

According to 'Shripad Shri Vallabh Charitra' Guru Dattatreya took three forms to bless and guide his devotees. The three forms are:-
1) Shripad Shri Vallabh
2) Shri Nrusinha Saraswati
3) Shri Swami Samarth










These Saints as well as Gajanan Maharaj of Shegaon and Sai Baba of Shirdi are some of the most revered Yogis(Sages) in India.

                                                                

Shri Swami Samarth :-                                                 
As per stated in 'Guru Charitra', Shri Nrusimha Saraswati went away to the Himalayas for doing his Tapascharya (Penance). He took his Samadhi there itself. Nearly after about 300 years, a large anthill grew on and around his body. One day, accidentally, a wood cutter came there. While cutting trees, his axe hit the anthill. He was taken aback by the view of blood stains on his axe. He tried and cleared the anthill and lo! he saw a Yogi Purush (Holy Sage) engrossed in deep meditation. After completion of his meditation, the Holy Sage opened his eyes. He consoled the shocked woodcutter and told him that it was his divine will to re-appear in this world, to complete his mission of eradicating the evil powers from this universe.

Swami had visted many pilgrimage places like Haridwar, Benaras, Rameshwaram, Puri, etc. Afterwards he visited Mangalvedha (Solapur, Maharashtra), and stayed there for some time. He came to Akkalkot (Solapur, Maharashtra) in 1856 and stayed there for the rest of his life i.e. about 23 years. There are many great disciples of Swami. Some of them are Shri Cholappa, Shri Balappa, Shri Ramanand Beedkar Maharaj, Shri Dev Mamledar, etc. During his stay in Akkalkot, Swami enlightened many lives and showed a ray of hope to innumerable devotees. Swami was known as 'Krupa Sindhu'. He is the third avatar (incarnation) of 'Datta Guru'. Swami was well-versed and knew many Vedic Literatures such as the holy Vedas. He performed various miracles to save his devotees from evil powers. He was a MahaYogi - A MahaPurush possessing great spiritual powers.

His devotees and disciples used to chant the mantra - "Shri swami samarth" so as to worship him.

People of all religions came to take his blessings. He never discriminated between people. He treated everyone equally. He used to visit Mosques, Dargahs along with Temples. He usually sat under a huge Banyan tree on the outskirts of Akkalkot. The news of his arrival to Akkalkot spread like a wildfire. Due to this various dignitaries and famous personalities visited Akkalkot.  Swami would always be accompanied by his disciples namely Cholappa and Balappa, wherever he would go. Swami oftenly muttered some phrases which only some were able to understand.

Many people tried to take Swami to their home, but only those became successful who worshiped him truly from the core of their heart. Swami always kept away from worldly things and hence he would donate all the offerings that were made to him, to the poor and helpless. Swami Samarth were Guru (Perceptor) to many great souls like Sai Baba of Shirdi, Gajanan Maharaj of Shegaon, Shri Ramakrishna Paramahansa, etc.

Shri Swami Sut alias Hari Bhau were the most dedicated devotee of Swami Maharaj. Swami Maharaj had blessed him and made him his Sut (Son). Swami ordered him to go to Mumbapuri (Mumbai) and build a Muth (Holy Shrine like Temple) there. Swami also gave him his Silver Padukas and told him to establish them in the Muth. This was an indication that Swami were going to take MahaSamadhi(The last conscious Communion with God).

Swami, according to his earlier indication, were ready to take Samadhi. Before that Maharaj had a keen desire to meet his Sut for the last time. Hence efforts were made to bring Swami Sut back to Akkalkot from Mumbai. But by hearing news of Swami's Samadhi, Swami Sut was shocked and so he decided to end his life prior to that of Swami. And at last he succeeded and took Samadhi before Swami Maharaj. Then on 30th April, 1878 Swami Samarth Maharaj took MahaSamadhi in front of his innumerable devotees. Grief and sorrow spread throughout Akkalkot. Every single person was weeping and grieving.

The Banyan tree under which Swami took Samadhi is still standing tall on the outskirts of Akkalkot. Even today after so many years, his devotees feel his presence everywhere around them. Swami always said "Bhiu Nakos, Mi Tujhya Pathishi Ahe (Do not fear, I am always there with you)".

Books on Swami Samarth Maharaj's Biography :-
1) Shree Swami Charitra
2) Shree Guru Saramrut.

Gajanan Maharaj :-           

The origin of Gajanan Maharaj cannot be found as his birth date is unknown. But people afterwards came to know that he was a Brahmin from Telangana(Andhra Pradesh).
The first appearance of Gajanan Maharaj was probably on 23rd of February 1878, Shegaon, Maharashtra. He was tall and handsome. His hands were long. A local moneylender named Bankat Lal Agarwal found Maharaj sitting on the outskirts of the village Shegaon  eating the leftovers from abandoned 'Patravalis', under a Banyan Tree. It is the greatness of Bankat Lal, that he took Maharaj to his house and asked him to stay with him.

Maharaj oftenly chanted the mantra "Gan Gan Ganat Bote ". The meaning of this mantra being - God is omnipresent. He is present in each and every thing around us. He dwells in each one of us. Hence treat every individual equally. God helps everyone without discriminating between castes, creeds and religions, and also teaches us to behave in the same manner.
Many devotees used to worship him and would bring delicious food, nice clothes, jewellery, ornaments, etc. But Maharaj never took anything from them. He used to donate those valueables to the needy and poor people. Maharaj knew the Vedas and the Vedic Literature and Scriptures. He sometimes used to speak in Telugu Language. Many a times the devotees were unable to understand the meaning of his utterances. Gajanan Maharaj performed various 'Chamatkars(Miracles)' so as to cure people of their sufferings and miseries. He knew Yogashastra and language of Animals and Birds. The well-known Miracles that he performed include - He brought water to waterless well, gave a new life to one of his disciples named Janrao Deshmukh, drew sugarcane juice by crushing sugarcanes with his hands, lighted the 'Chillim(Clay-Pipe)' without fire.

The people who worship him call him as 'Trikaal Dnyani (A person who is able to read the mind of  every living being)'. As the word spread that a Yogi Purush named Gajanan Maharaj had come to Shegaon, many famous and renowned personalities came to Shegaon, so as to take blessings from him. Shri Vasudevanand Saraswati also visited Shegaon to meet Gajanan Maharaj.

It is believed that Maharaj stayed in the Ashram of Akkalkot Swami Samarth in his teenage. After taking initial lessons, Swami Samarth Maharaj directed Gajanan Maharaj to go and seek training from Yashwant Dev Mamledar in Nashik. Gajanan Maharaj imbibed lessons in Yog Sadhana and meditation and latter attained tremendous expertise in Yog Sadhana under Narsing baba of Akot.

From Akot Maharaj then went to Shegaon. Later he stayed most of his life in Shegaon.
On the advise of Gajanan Maharaj, his disciples established a Trust named, 'Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan' in 1908.

Then on one day Gajanan Maharaj on his own decided to take leave from this world. He took Samadhi on Bhadrapada Shuddha Panchami i.e. Rishi Panchmi, Shake 1832 i.e. 8th September 1910. Thousands of his disciples and devotees gathered near his Samadhi place. There were no words to describe their grief.
However all of his innumerable disciples and devotees believe that even today Shri Gajanan Maharaj is alive and is always with them.

Information regarding Gajanan Maharaj's biography :-
Tushiram Nagalkar whose father was in the company of Gajanan Maharaj, recorded the dates in his diary with utmost care and later published the biography 1957. But due to some unknown reasons the biography written by T. R. Nagarlkar has not been given official recognition, while Das Ganu's "Shree Gajanan Vijay" written in 1940, based on the papers made available by Ratansa Bhavsar is the official biography recognized by the 'Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan (Shegaon)'.

Sai Baba :-  
'Sai Baba' is a god of Indian Origin. Not only his birth date but also his birth place is unknown. Some people of specific religions (mostly Hindus & Muslims) claim that he is an Hindu/Muslim. His attire resembles to that of a Fakir. The first appearance of Sai Baba was in the Dhoopkhede village of Aurangabad Dist., Maharashtra in India.

The story of his appearance is as follows :-
One day the horse of Chandbhai Patil - Head of village Dhoopkhede (in Aurangabad), got lost. While Chandbhai was searching, for him he heard a voice saying - "You look tired Chandbhai. Come here and rest for a while. What are you searching for?" this surprised Chandbhai and he turned around and saw a  Young Fakir (Baba) of about 17-18 yrs. in age, standing in front of him. He was puzzled by hearing his name from this unknown Baba. Somehow he told him that his horse has been lost and he is nowhere to be found. On this the Fakir replied - "Search in those bushes near you". Chandbhai did as told to him by Baba, and lo! he found his horse grazing peacefully behind those bushes. He thanked the Fakir and asked him that what was his name. On this the Fakir replied - "People call me Sai Baba". Chandbhai wanted to thank Baba and so he invited him to attend his wife's nephew's marriage. As  per decided Baba went to Chandbhai's house next morning. The marriage took place in a nice manner. After that the marriage procession was to go to Shirdi, and so Chandbhai offered Baba to accompany him till Shirdi.

Sai Baba came to Shirdi with the procession and alighted near Khandoba's Temple. On seeing Sai, the temple priest welcomed him by saying - "Come Sai". And from then onwards Sai dwelled permanently in Shirdi village. Due to temple priest calling Baba as Sai, everybody started calling him as Sai Baba.

Sai Baba in their lifetime enlightened many great souls and helped the poor and lower caste people. Sai performed many miracles during his stay at Shirdi, due to which many people from and outside of Shirdi, came to know about this MahaYogi (A great Saint). Sai Baba always teached people to have faith in god. He always preached that God is one and Exists, but the only thing is that, different people know him by different names. Sai Baba would usually sit under a Neem Tree. Many a times he would be seen at the doorsteps of Mosque or Temple. He believed that everyone in this universe is equal, and god has created every single creature with some or other reason behind his existence. Many people questioned his Godliness. But as time passed all people came to know about Sai Baba. Sai Baba cured innumerable people of their miseries by his miraculous touch of affection and sympathy. Sai Baba loved animals and so he would always feed them with whatever he had with him. One of Sai Baba 's greatest teachings is 'Shraddha(Belief) & Saburi(Patience)'. The devotees of Sai Baba would always chant the mantra "Om Sai Ram" so as to worship him.

With time Baba grew older. One day Baba fell very ill. People came to know that Sai Baba would take their leave anytime i.e. Sai Baba would take Samadhi sooner or later. And as supposed by the villagers, on 15th October 1918 Baba breathed his last breath. Grief and sorrow filled the heart of every villager as Sai Baba had left them. The last wish of Baba was that he should be buried in Booti's(One of Sai's great devotee) building, which was built by Booti with the help of Sai Baba.

Even today after so many years after Baba's Samadhi, many devotees from all over India and even outside India, come and seek blessings from Sai Baba. Shirdi has become one of the most important Holy places in India.

Books on Sai Baba's Biography :-
1) Sai Satcharitra.