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Hagiography

Swami Gagangiri Maharaj was an Indian Hindu saint and Guru of the Nath Sampradaya. Gagangiri Maharaj was particularly known for his water penance and intense meditation practices. He is the incarnation of Adi Dattatreya himself. Swamiji was a widely revered figure amongst Indian sadhus and saints.

Life 
Shri Gagangiri Maharaj was born as Shripad Patankar in a village named Mandure in Patan, Satara district of Maharashtra. Patankar family was a imperial family and a direct descendants of the Chalukyadynasty which once ruled much of South and Central India. At the tender age of seven, he left home and went to a Matha of Nath sampradaya which was located at Battees-Shirala. At a very early age he took Sannyasa.

After getting initiated in a monastic order he started travelling with various Mahants, sages of Nath Sampradaya. During pilgrimages he mastered yoga and several Tantra. He travelled to far and wide places such as Nepal, Bhutan, Manas Sarovar, Gaurishankar, Gorakshdarbar, Gorakhpur, Pashupatinath and returned to Almora. Finally, he travelled through the Valley of Ganga, Himachal Pradesh and reached Badrika Ashram.

Gagangiri Maharaj was extremely tired as a result of his peregrinations and he decided to rest in a cave. When he was relaxing, a sage wearing saffron robes came there from the mountains. He sprinkled water from his kamandalu, on the face of Gagangiri Maharaj. He also gave him some kind of green grass to eat which resembled coriander leaves. For his penance, he had prepared mattresses of grass. He found his mattresses growing like living vegetation. This was considered as an experience, where Tantrik technique is perfected. He did a number of Kaya Kalpas. In this process he invented several new concepts in Tantrik techniques and proved them true. He did penance at a number of places like Mauli Kund, Mauli Kada, Zanzu water, Mausame Kada, Kasarbari, Ginger water, Sat-barkund, Holi Kada, Margaj water, Jungledeo patti, Shirale etc.

During monsoon, he stayed in the cave at Garbhagiri, Gagangiri. He did penance in a pond near the river at Sangashi, Vazar, Vesraf, Palsambe, Ramling etc. Later he went to Vijaydurg, in the Konkan area from where he reached Bombay by steamer. During 1945 to 1948, he did Kayakalpa at Angale, near Rajapur in Konkan. As more and more people benefited by his meditation, more and more people started worshipping and respecting him, and his reputation spread all around. Maharaj ji was followed by various high ranking officials and ministers like Yashwantrao Chavan, Balasaheb Desai, Rajarambapu Patil, Patangrao Kadam

Swamiji then decided to travel all over India alone on foot and accordingly his journey started. At this time, his fair skin was glowing with health. Attired in saffron robes of a sanyasi, he was revered by people. He travelled on foot from Haridwar to Delhi, Bhopal, etc. At Bhopal while he was taking rest after bath near a tank, the princely ruler of Kolhapur and his retinue happened to be nearby while on a brief visit. Swamiji&#39;s mother tongue being Marathi, a conversation between him and Kolhapur ruler&#39;s retinue ensued resulting in the ruler requesting Swamiji to accompany him to Kolhapur. In 1932 the Raja of Kolhapur had been to Dajipur jungle for hunting. Swamiji who had accompanied him stayed back in the jungle, where he lived from 1932 to 1940. He spent these years in meditation and deep reflection. In Bombay between 1948 and 1950, he stayed in Dadi Hirji Parsi graveyards, near the temple of Maruti, at shidi near Walkeshwar. Guru pournima (full moon day of Ashadha month for worshipping the Guru) used to be celebrated on a big scale at Birla Kreeda Kendra in Bombay. In spite of all these preoccupations in respect of the society, he continued his penance for over 60 years. Maharaj also called upon the youth to come forward and revive the glory of Hinduism.[1] He was awarded &quot;Vishwagaurav Vibhushan&quot; by the Parliament of the World&#39;s Religions.

Work Done

Gagangiri Maharaj, also known as Swami Gagangiri Maharaj, was indeed a renowned spiritual leader and environmentalist in India. He dedicated his life to promoting environmental conservation and spreading awareness about the importance of living in harmony with nature.

Gagangiri Maharaj established ashrams in Khopoli and Gaganbawda, which served as centers for spiritual practice and environmental education. He actively traveled between these ashrams, engaging with his followers and disciples. His teachings emphasized the need to protect and preserve the environment, recognizing it as an integral part of spiritual well-being.

Gagangiri Maharaj gained a significant following across several states in India, including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. His ashrams were located in Maharashtra, Goa, and Andhra Pradesh, serving as hubs for his teachings and the practice of his spiritual principles.

Notable personalities, such as Dhirubhai Ambani, the founder of Reliance Industries, Bal Thackeray, a prominent political figure in Maharashtra, and Mamata Kulkarni, a Bollywood actress, were among Gagangiri Maharaj&#39;s devotees. It is noteworthy that Bal Thackeray cherished a rosary of rudraksha beads that were blessed by Gagangiri Maharaj and often held them in his hands.

On February 4, 2008, during the auspicious time of Brahmamuhurtha (around 3:30 a.m.), Gagangiri Maharaj took Mahasamadhi at his Ashram in Khopoli. Mahasamadhi is a term used in the yogic tradition to refer to the conscious departure of a realized being from their physical body, often considered a state of spiritual liberation.

Gagangiri Maharaj&#39;s legacy continues to inspire his followers and others interested in environmental conservation and spirituality. His teachings on living in harmony with nature and the significance of preserving the environment remain relevant in the pursuit of sustainable living and a deeper understanding of our interconnectedness with the natural world.

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