“Embracing the Divine Light: The Eternal Legacy of Sadguru Shankar Maharaj”

Sadhuru Shri Shankar Maharaj: "The Avadhuta Who is the Leading Light."

He was full of love for everybody. He was way beyond the barriers of caste, creed, colour or even religion. Like a ray of light, he illuminated his surrounding and the people who surrounded him. He gave away all his wisdom, love, care and philosophy for the seekers who came to him. For him ‘Sab Kuchh Tera, Kuchh Nahin Mera’ (Everything is yours, nothing is mine) was the guiding principle. His disciples have experienced the total transformation of their lives and the purification of souls by his magical touch. He is Shankar Maharaj, the great Guru and guiding light for millions of people around the world. Even after his ‘Samadhi’ back in 1947, he is still there extending his hand of assistance to all those who strive for light, and emancipation from ignorance. Like many other devotees, Shankar baba transformed my life and gave it a direction that none other could.

As per Hindu Calendar, Sadhuru Shri Shankar Maharaj was born on Ashtami tithi, i.e. eighth day, of Vaisakha Shukla Paksha.

Today, we are commemorating 77 years of “Sadhuru Shri Shankar Maharaj Samadhi Diwas” on 15th May ‘24.

As per “Drik Panchang”, the “tithi” for “Sadhuru Shri Shankar Maharaj Samadhi Diwas” in ‘24 is as follows:

• Ashtami Tithi Begins - 04:19 a.m. on 15th May ’24
• Ashtami Tithi Ends - 06:22 a.m. on 16th May ’24

The Importance of a Guru

• Nurturing the Beacon of Guidance

We, the common people full of desires and leading a mundane life, unaware of the eternal life and the immense possibilities and responsibilities awaiting us often continue with our existence without a direction. Surprisingly, we are happily oblivious to the potential of an enlightened life. It is only through a Guru or a Pathfinder that we come to realize the truth behind our existence. They are the lighthouse that guides us in the night and shows the light of wisdom to our life full of material desires, temptations and selfishness. A meaningful, purposeful and elevated life is almost impossible without the support and assistance of a Guru.

Shankar Maharaj's Life and Teachings

• The Divine Journey of Shankar Maharaj

Visiting different temples and worshipping idols of God is a common ritual we often follow. We pray before Lord Shiva, Vishnu, Krishna or other deities and seek their blessings. Sometimes, the Gods appear on this planet as human beings but with all the divine powers. They are the Gurus who hold our hands and show us the path of liberation and redefine the purpose and philosophy of our lives. We call them Sadgurus or the true Gurus who help us in self-realization.

We have our inclination towards different Gurus. Some are devoted to Swami Samarth, some towards Sai Baba, some to Gajanan Maharaj and the list goes on. Life begins to change and starts shining from within after we meet our Gurus. My light of life is Shankar Maharaj. India has been the blessed land of different gurus in different times, who have made this land more prosperous with their teachings and philosophy. Shri Swami Samarth, also known as Swami of Akkalkot was a spiritual Guru. He was a representative of the Dattatreya Tradition. He is famous as a reincarnation of Narasimha Saraswati. He also influenced Shankar Maharaj.

Sai Baba or Sai Baba of Shirdi was a famous Guru who has millions of devotees around the globe. A saint, his teachings contained illustrious values that were able to influence people of different strata of society. He preached the importance of self-realization and disapproved of love for earthly things. He taught people to love and forgive each other, help others, practise charity, and serenity, and have devotion to God and Guru. Gajanan Maharaj, the great saint of the Dattatreya Tradition also influenced a great number of devotees through his teachings. It was he who taught us that we can reach God through our wholehearted devotion.

Shankar Maharaj, the great disciple of Shri Swami Samartha of Akkalkot was an Auliya or Avadhut, which means a Yogi achieving perfection and Siddhi or enlightenment. Despite being a Nath Panthi, he never followed their dress or mannerisms. It is said that he was born around 1800 and there are few legends about his birth.

• Legends behind Shankar Maharaj’s Divine Birth

One says that he was found as a newborn child by a person named Chimanaji in the Antapur village of Nashik district of Maharashtra. Chimanaji, a devotee of Lord Shiva, got instructions in a dream about this child. The next morning after waking up, alongwith his wife Chimnaji went to the spot that he saw in dreams. He was astonished to see a child guarded by a streak of tigers. He quietly got the child home and named him Shankar after Lord Shiva, as he was born on a Monday and found under a bel tree (Aegle marmelos).

Another legend narrates that Maharaj was born at Mangalwedhe in Maharashtra in the Upasani family and was known as Shankar Dattatraya Upasani........ Shankar Maharaj had the opportunity of meeting Swami Samarth of Akkalkot who gave him the divine powers through touch, called Sparshdiksha at Machnur. He received spiritual guidance from Swami Samarth for the next 6 months, after which he was advised to go on pilgrimage. He visited the Himalayas, practised penance and then went to different parts of India where he got various names. He went to Kashi, Gwalior, Raver, etc. He was named Khichadi Baba in Kashi, and Gourishankar in the Gwalior region and so on.

After visiting so many places, he came to Maharashtra and visited many places of the state like Solapur, Trimbakeshwar near Nashik, Pune and other places. He never had a Math or institution. He and his teachings were the institutions themselves. The external appearance of Shankar baba has been described as that of Ashtavakra or bent in eight places. He was Ajanubahu which means having long hands reaching below his knees. The remarkable features were his large and bright eyes and childlike expression.

• Lessons from Shankar Maharaj

Shankar Maharaj taught the lessons of life through his simple but valuable and deep teachings. He never forced anybody to take up the path of spirituality. Rather, he encouraged his disciples to put their duties a top priority and serve their parents as well as mankind. Respect for parents and the Guru was also stressed by him. He attached prime importance to self-realization and said that one who has self-realization can only know him. He thought that nothing is his. Rather, he believed that everything belongs to you. According to Guruji devotion is much greater than enlightenment. His simple teachings have been able to influence millions of devotees within and outside India.

Experiencing the Immortal Flame of Shankar Maharaj’s Presence

Guruji decided to take Samadhi on Shukla Ashtami of the month Vaishakh. It was on Monday 28th April 1947. He cut all contact with outsiders ten days before his Samadhi. He was staying at his disciple, Mama Dhekne's house where he was staying. On the Saptami day, he took bath, closed the doors of a room and sat down. At four o'clock in the morning, a voice came from inside the room saying that Maharaj is leaving his mortal body. It was in Dhankawadi where he took the Samadhi.

Maharaj’s Samadhi math is in Dhankwadi, Pune-Satara Road. Visit the math (monestry) to experience his divine energy.

The math timings are available on google. Visiting on a Monday or a Thursday is considered highly beneficial.

There are many other temples of Shankar Maharaj in Maharashtra.

Even after his Samadhi, Maharaj appeared before many of his disciples in different forms and listened to their prayers and showed them the right path. For his disciples, he is omnipresent, always listens to the prayers and responds to their genuine devotion.

We get to know about the life, philosophy and teachings of Shankar Maharaj through Shankar Gita. It also narrates the miracles associated with the divine powers of Sadguru Shri Shankar Maharaj. This can also be called the biography of Shankar Maharaj written by Bhagvant Vasudev Aghor. This sacred text gives us an insight into the deep-rooted philosophy and universal love for mankind by Shankar Maharaj. It also comes as a blessing for all the devotees of the Guru, to pray and seek His blessings by reading the Gita. The book has 18 chapters along with chants, prayers and Aarti mantra for Shankar Maharaj. The Mahaprasad that is being offered after the completion of parayana is khichadi (made of rice and mixed dal) and kanda bhaji (onion pakodas).

I dedicate the above article, my thoughts with utmost devotion at his feet. I have profound respect, total dependence on the divine philosophy of Sadguru Shankar Maharaj. I am what I am only because of him. I can constantly feel his presence, his guidance and the aura of his great personality around me. Whenever I am in doubt, it is He who shows me the light, the right path to follow. I get all my queries answered by him and his divine presence always keeps me protected, safe and content. It is not only me, any disciple who honestly dedicates his/her devotion to the great Shankar Maharaj, will be elevated to an enlightened life of realization and liberation from all evils and material temptation. If we delve deep into the essence of his teachings, we can feel his presence. As a wholehearted devotee of Shankar Maharaj, I can sense his presence everywhere and that is why I never experience the feeling of loneliness.

In this age of unrest, confusion, hatred and conflicts, we all need to follow the valuable life lessons perched by Shankar Maharaj. They teach us the essence of devotion, dedication, self-control and enlightenment to make our lives meaningful. He inspires us to cross the mundane limits of our daily lives and live a life that thinks of others, helps others and is uplifted to the highest level of attainment.

Disclaimer:

As a staunch devotee, I dedicate this article to Sadguru Shankar Maharaj on his Samadhi Diwas as a mark of my respect, love and dedication to Him. These words are coming straight from my heart, some findings from books and social media platforms. Would apologise in advance incase of any mistakes.

Jai Shankar!