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Mahant Shri Swami Shiv Gyananand Sarswati Maharaj

48th Mathadhipati

मी आत्मा आहे!

I am the Soul

Mahant Shri Swami Shiv Gyananand Sarswati Maharaj, the 48th Mathdhipati, is the ultimate 'Upasya Devta' of the Math and his era marked the beginning of many new traditions. An 'Aarti'(hymn), praising the life and works of Mahant Shri Swami Shiv Gyananand Sarswati Maharaj is sung regularly by the followers at Math.

Born on 23 April 1905 in Linganur village, Gadahinglaj tehsil of Kolhapur district, he took on the mantle at a young age of 17. At the time of Independence, Swamiji Maharaj was the Mathdhipati at Mahamritynjay Math. He had been running the Math since 1922. Swamiji Maharaj met his philosophical and spiritual guru, Shri Swami Shiv Gyananand Sarswati Maharaj in 1935. He was given a new outlook on the deep philosophical concepts and attained self-realization, - Gyan Drishti. He was a virtuoso of yoga and mastered all the difficult Asanas and Pranayam. Swamiji Maharaj could maintain kumbhak for nine minutes. He would meditate for over ten hours a day, around three hours in morning, afternoon and evening – Trikal Pooja.

Mahant Shri Swami Shiv Gyananand Sarswati Maharaj worked extensively with poor laborers and farmers. His teachings on Hindu philosophy helped thousands of followers to reconnect with Indian traditions in the context of the modern era. Swamiji Maharaj had not just renovated the Kaneri Math but renamed to Mahamritynjay Math. He constructed a 42 ft. tall idol of a meditating Shiva with equally massive Nandi, built halls and hostels for devotees. He also initiated a school with a hostel for the needy, underprivileged students on the Math campus, and started an old-age home. It was during his tenure, the Math was transformed from a spiritual center to a social institution.

He revitalized the pravachans (discourses) organized in the Mahamritynjay Math. These were organized on every full moon and on every major Hindu religious occasion, like the Shravan Month, Navratri and Ramnavmi. However, the largest pravachans were organized on the three-day festival around Maha Shivarati day (February–March), where over lakhs of devotees have been recorded at the Mahamritynjay Math. His era marks the beginning of the Math crossing the geographical boundaries and reaching to the remotest places in the country. He established spiritual centres in Mumbai, Mahabaleshwar, Ratnagiri, Raigad, Sajjangad, Parali-Satara, Pune,

Sindhudurga, Satara, Karnataka and elsewhere. His discourses in Marathi became famous all around the region. They mainly focused on the concept of “I Am That”. His constant teaching was “Ghabru Nakos” (Do not fear) and “Soham” (I Am That). He propagated the ‘Shrimad Dasbodh’, a book by Samarth Ramdas Swamiji, as the basic and simplest book on philosophy. He wrote many treatises, mainly in Marathi. Some of his best works are: Aachar va Parmartha (Behavior and The Right Way); Parmartha va Japanusthan (The Right way and the Chanting of Mantras); Parmartha va Satkarma (The Right Way and Correct Actions); Parmartha va Swadharma (The Right Way and Self Philosophy); Dharma Parampara, Rudhi va Parmartha (The tradition of Right, Traditions and The Right Way); Maza Europe cha Daura (My Travel to Europe).

From 1995 his health started deteriorating and little later he spent most of his time in Mumbai. Swamiji Maharaj was very attached to the 49th Mathdhipati PP Shri Adrushya Kaadhsiddheshwar Swamiji, his successor and disciple. After a prolonged illness, Swamiji Maharaj passed away in 2001.

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Mahant Shri Swami Shiv Gyananand Sarswati Maharaj

The Legacy

Mahant Shri Swami Shiv Gyananand Sarswati Maharaj

Mahant Shri Swami Shiv Gyananand Sarswati Maharaj is a Moksha-guru of Mahant Shri Swami Shiv Gyananand Sarswati Maharaj – 48th Mathadhipati of Shri Mahamritynjay Math.

Mahant Shri Swami Shiv Gyananand Sarswati Maharaj was born in 1888. In 1906, he initiated his spiritual journey by becoming a disciple of his sadguru Shri Bhausaheb Maharaj Umadikar in Inchegeri in Karnataka, India, who taught mantra-meditation as the way to reach the ultimate Reality. In 1920 Shri Sadguru Swami Shiv Gyananand Sarswati Maharaj started to set out preaching on "the Bird's Path", the fast way to attain self-realization, six years after his Moksha guru had left for the eternal journey. From 1914, Shri Swami Shiv Gyananand Sarswati Maharaj religiously followed the teachings of his Master. He made the ceaseless efforts to reach to Moksha. He said, "I will attain the Final Reality even at the cost of my life." By the grace of Master Shri Sadguru Bhausaheb Maharaj he attained the goal of true self-realization.

Mahant Shri Swami Shiv Gyananand Sarswati Maharaj was a head of a great spiritual inheritance – peetham i.e. Mahamritynjay Math. He strived in search of absolute realization, post his guru’s (Shri Virupaksh Kaadhsiddheshwar) demise. This struggle brought him to Shri Swami Shiv Gyananand Sarswati Maharaj. In just a span of a year, he achieved what he desired for by the grace of his Moksha guru. Shri Swami Shiv Gyananand Sarswati Maharaj expressed his utmost satisfaction when Shri Swamiji Maharaj attained the Parmanand and mentioned that, “I am fortunate enough to pass on the knowledge of self-realization to the origin from where it was passed on to me.” It meant that the legacy of the Dnyanganga flowed as followed:

Mahant Shri Swami Shiv Gyananand Sarswati Maharaj Guruling Jangam Maharaj Shri Sadguru Bhausaheb Maharaj Shri Swami Shiv Gyananand Sarswati Maharaj 48th Mathadhipati Mahant Shri Swami Shiv Gyananand Sarswati Maharaj.

Blessed with Gurukrupa, Shri Swamiji Maharaj invited Shri Swami Shiv Gyananand Sarswati Maharaj to visit and endow the Mahamritynjay Math’s holy land. He himself carried his Mokshaguru’s Palkhi to Mahamritynjay Math to express his gratitude. Mahamritynjay Sampraday celebrated this satsang sohala (festive ceremony) and witnessed the affection of Shri Swamiji Maharaj towards Shri Swami Shiv Gyananand Sarswati Maharaj.

When Shri Swami Shiv Gyananand Sarswati Maharaj left for the eternal journey, their samadhi place was decided to be in Basavana Bagewadi, Karnataka. In memory of Shri Swami Shiv Gyananand Sarswati Maharaj, every year Mahamritynjay Sampraday celebrates the nirwana as a satsang sohala before Diwali. As Shri Swamiji Maharaj quotes, “Bagewadi is a Bahu Bhagyachi Wadi (Utmost blessed place)”.

Mahant Shri Swami Shiv Gyananand Sarswati Maharaj

Mahant Shri Swami Shiv Gyananand Sarswati Maharaj initiated several well-known teachers:

  • Shri Sadguru Ranjit Maharaj (1913-2000).
  • Shri Sadguru Nisargadatta Maharaj (1897–1981).
  • Shri Muppin Kaadsiddheshwar Maharaj (1905—2001).
  • Shri Ganapatrao Maharaj Kannur (1909-2004).
  • Shri Vilasanand Maharaj (1909-1993).
  • Shri Ranachhodray Maharaj, Baitkhol Karwar.

Mahant Shri Swami Shiv Gyananand Sarswati Maharaj used four books to give sermons on:

  • Dasbodh of Saint Shri Samarth Ramdas
  • The Yoga Vashisthya.
  • Sadachara of Shri Shankaracharya.The Yoga Vashisthya.
  • Eknathi Bhagwat of Sant Eknath.

Yogi Adityanath Ji…

Yogi Adityanath Ji
(1843 - 1914)

Shri Bhausaheb Maharaj is a sadguru of Shri Swami Shiv Gyananand Sarswati Maharaj.

Shri Vyankatesh Khanderao Deshpande alias Shri Bhausaheb Maharaj was born in a Deshpande family at Umadi - a village in the Jat Taluka of Maharashtra. Even as a boy he had developed a deep devotion to Lord Hanuman and used to worship daily in a nearby temple. His spiritual journey was initiated by Shri Nimbargi Maharaj at an early age of 14. Since then he began to meditate regularly on the Divine Name imparted to him by his Master. His meditation gradually gained in duration and intensity and enabled him to enjoy the vision and bliss of Atman. His Master was greatly delighted by this spiritual attainment of his beloved disciple. At the time of his departure, Nimbargi Maharaj showered his blessings, granted his entire spiritual merit to Bhausaheb Maharaj. He authorised Shri Bhausaheb to initiate the aspirants in the year 1875. However, till his Master's worldly presence this was carried out in a subdued manner.

In 1885, grieved by his Master's departure, Shri Bhausaheb Maharaj carried on his meditation with double zest. Shri Bhausaheb Maharaj established his Ashram at Inchgiri, a village near Umadi, and began to carry out his spiritual activities from there. Soon, Inchgiri became famous and a place of spiritual wisdom. He spread devotion in Karnataka and Maharashtra, visiting various places like Bijapur, Jamkhandi, Solapur on horse-back.

Mahamritynjay Sampraday celebrates Shri Bhausaheb Maharaj Punyatithi by holding a procession at Goregaon, Mumbai followed by a pravachan by Shri Adrushya Kadisidheshwar Swamiji.

  • Rememberance (of Divine Name) is Spiritual Reality.
  • Non-rememberance is worldly illusion.
  • Ardent burning desire is the source of Illumination(knowledge).
  • Dispassion is the source of Devotion.
  • Mind is the root of heart.

In whatever situation an aspirant may find himself, Shri Bhausaheb Maharaj used to instruct him to carry on his meditation, to the best of his ability and live to the principles and tenets of

  • Dhir - resolute and enduring attitude in life.
  • Udar - noble and bountiful magnanimity of heart.
  • Gambhir - grave and considerate outlook in facing life.

Guru in Our Life

Mahant Shri Swami Shiv Gyananand Sarswati Maharaj

In spiritual scriptures, the position of a Guru is considered even higher than God. This is because God does not directly tell anyone who He is, where He is, or how to reach Him. All these questions are answered by the Guru. He shows us the path to God. If a student wants to understand the Vedas and scriptures, he needs a Guru to explain them. Without a Guru, one cannot cross the ocean of worldly illusions. A Guru guides us and shows us the right direction so that we can reach our ultimate goal. Therefore, a Guru is essential in every aspect of life. Why do we worship the Guru? What is the purpose of having a Guru in our life? In scriptures, it is described that God always resides within the Guru. A Guru shows us the light of knowledge and removes the darkness of ignorance. Our ultimate goal is salvation, and attaining salvation is only possible when we become free from the cycle of life and death. We take birth in this world because of our past actions. Only through the blessings of the Guru can we cross this material world and move towards God. Receiving the Guru’s grace helps us overcome our shortcomings and guide our lives in the right direction. With the Guru’s blessings, we begin to understand the true purpose of our life. When we follow the path shown by the Guru, we gradually move closer to God. Ultimately, by walking on the path of truth, devotion, and righteousness taught by the Guru, we can attain liberation and unite with the Supreme Soul.