Gajanan Maharaj was an Indian Hindu guru, saint, and mystic whose origins are uncertain. He first appeared in Shegaon, Maharashtra, around February 1878 at the age of 30. He attained Sanjeevana Samadhi, believed to be a voluntary withdrawal from the physical body, on September 8, 1910. His Samadhi date is commemorated annually as part of the Shree Punyatithi Utsav, while his first appearance is celebrated as Prakat Din Sohla.

There are different versions of Gajanan Maharaj's background and biographical details. One biography, titled "Shree Gajanan Maharaj Charitra-Kosh," mentions various accounts of his origins. Another biography called "Shree Gajanan Vijay" was composed by Das Ganu, a devotee who was advised to write about Maharaj.

Gajanan Maharaj is associated with divine powers and is believed to have performed miracles. He is revered as an enlightened being and had followers in Maharashtra. Thousands of people visit the Shegaon temple each year. Maharaj was known to follow three streams of Yoga: Karma, Bhakti, and Gyan Yoga.

According to legends, Gajanan Maharaj was seen by a money lender named Bankat Lal Agarwal in a "superconscious state" on February 23, 1878. He performed various miracles during his lifetime, and his predictions, such as that of Lokmanya Tilak's harsh sentence by the British Raj, were said to come true.

Gajanan Maharaj took Samadhi on September 8, 1910. His remains were buried, and a temple was built in his name at Shegaon. The Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan, a body of 12 trustees, was formed to commemorate the holy place where Maharaj indicated his Samadhi. The Sansthan manages educational institutions and the Anand Sagar project, a large amusement place in Shegaon.

Shegaon is situated on the Mumbai-Howrah railway route, and many trains make brief stops there.