Bhausaheb Maharaj

Bhausaheb Maharaj (c. 1843 - c. 1914) was the founder of the Inchegeri Sampradaya, to which the well-known Indian guru Nisargadatta Maharaj belongs.

Bhausaheb Maharaj
Shri Samartha Sadaguru Bhausaheb Maharaj
Personal
Born
Bhausaheb Umadikar

1843
Karnataka
Died1914
ReligionHinduism
Founder ofInchegeri Sampradaya
PhilosophyJnana yoga
Religious career
GuruNimbargi Maharaj

Biography

Background

Bhausaheb Maharaj was born in 1843 as Venkatesh Kanderao Deshpande.[1][2] Bhausaheb Maharaj belonged to the Deshastha Brahmin caste,[2][1] the same caste to which the thirteenth century Varkari saint and philosopher Dnyaneshwar belonged, the 16th century sant Eknath, and the 17th century saint and spiritual poet Samarth Ramdas.[3] Dnyaneshwar was universally acclaimed for his commentary on the Bhagvad Gita.[4] Eknath published an extensive poem called the Eknathi Bhagwat in the 16th century. Other works of Eknath include the Bhavartha Ramayana, the Rukmini Swayamwara and the Swatma Sukha.[4] Samarth Ramdas, who was also the spiritual adviser to Shivaji, wrote the Dasbodh.[4]

Spiritual life

According to Kotnis, Bhausaheb Maharj was looked upon as the reincarnation of Sant Tukaram[5] (1577–1650), a prominent Varkari Sant and spiritual poet of the Bhakti, who had taken birth again in the Neelwani Lingayat community to finish his work of spreading the knowledge of Self-realisation.[5] He met his guru Sri Nimbargi at the age of fourteen.[1] At the request of Nimbargi,[1][web 1] Bhausaheb Maharaj Deshpande (1843 Umdi - 1914 Inchgiri)[web 1] received mantra initiation[1] from Shri Raghunathpriya Sadhu Maharaj,[1][web 1] who was an ardent follower and a devoted disciple of Shri Gurulingajangam Maharaj.[6][web 1] Bhausaheb Maharaj became a disciple of Nimbargi Maharaj.[web 1]

Teachings

The Ant's Way

Bhausaheb Maharaj's teachings, and those of his student Gurudeo Ranade, have been called Pipilika Marg ,[web 2] "the Ant's way",[web 2] the way of meditation,[web 3] while the teachings of his student Siddharameshwar Maharaj, and Siddharameshwar Maharaj's disciples Nisargadatta Maharaj and Ranjit Maharaj have been called Vihangam Marg,[web 2] "the Bird's Way", the direct path to Self-discovery.[web 3][note 1] Ranjit Maharaj comments:

There are two ways to realize: the bird's way or ant's way. By meditation (or ant's way) one can realize. The word or name has so much power. The name you were given by your parents has done so many things. Mantra is given by the master, but it is a very long way for the understanding. By chanting or saying the mantra you can go to the final reality.There are only two things: one is reality, the other is illusion. One word only can wipe out illusion.

So one thought [i.e. mantra] from the Master who has realized is sufficient to realize. It is a very lengthy way, that's the only thing. So my Master found the shortest way, by thinking. By unthinking you have become the smallest creature, and by thinking you can become the greatest of the great, why not? If you don't have the capacity to understand by thinking, the bird's way, then you can go by way of meditation. It is the long way and you have to meditate for many hours a day. People say they meditate, but most don't know how to meditate. They say that God is one and myself is another one, that is the duality. It will never end that way.

So one word is sufficient from the Master. Words can cut words, thoughts can cut thoughts in a fraction of a second. It can take you beyond the words, that is yourself. In meditation you have to eventually submerge your ego, the meditator, and the action of the meditation, and finally yourself. It is a long way.[7]

Nama-Yoga

Bhausaheb Maharaj teachings were collected in a book called Nama-Yoga, a term coined by the compilers and translators of the book, whereas Bhausaheb Maharaj himself called it Jnana Marga, just like Nimbargi Maharaj did.[1] The editors wrote:

"Nama-Yoga" is a word specially coined by us to designate the Spiritual Philosophy and Discipline of Sri [Bhausaheb] Maharaj. He himself called it Jnana-Marga - or Path of self-realisation. We have , however, used "Nama-Yoga" in a double sense. In fact, both the words - Nama and Yoga carry double meaning. Nama means i)Meditation on Divine Name and ii) Divinity in posse. Like many other saints, to Sri [Bhausaheb] Maharaj also, Nāma (name) and Rūpa (form) of God were identical. The Name itself was God. Yoga means Spiritual union or realisation of god. In the first sense, Nama-Yoga represents the Path, while in the second sense, it represents the Goal, as meditation, on Divine Name, if properly practiced, will lead to the realisation of the vision and bliss of the lord.[1]

Lineage

After his awakening he was authorized by Nimbargi to carry on the lineage,[1] and established the Inchegeri Sampraday.[8] Sri Bhausaheb Maharaj had many students, among which were:

Inchegeri Sampradaya
Rishi Dattatreya, mythological deity-founder.[lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2]
Navnath, the nine founders of the Nath Sampradaya,[lower-alpha 3][lower-alpha 4]
Gahininath,[lower-alpha 5] the 5th Navnath[lower-alpha 6] Revananath, the 7th[lower-alpha 7] or 8th[lower-alpha 8] Navnath, also known as Kada Siddha[lower-alpha 9] Siddhagiri Math[lower-alpha 10][lower-alpha 11] c.q. Kaneri Math (est. 7th[lower-alpha 12] or 14th century[lower-alpha 13];
Lingayat Parampara[lower-alpha 14] c.q. Kaadasiddheshwar Parampara[lower-alpha 15]
Nivruttinath, Dnyaneshwar's brother[lower-alpha 16]
Dnyaneshwar[lower-alpha 17] (1275–1296)
also known as Sant Jñāneshwar or Jñanadeva[lower-alpha 18]
and as Kadasiddha[lower-alpha 19] or Kad-Siddheshwar Maharaj[lower-alpha 20]

Different accounts:
Kadasiddha,[lower-alpha 21] also called "Almighty "Kadsiddeshwar",[lower-alpha 22] who appeared as a vision to Sri Gurulingajangam Maharaj[lower-alpha 23]
or
The 22nd or 24th[lower-alpha 24] Shri Samarth Muppin Kaadsiddheswar Maharaj, who initiated Sri Gurulingajangam Maharaj[lower-alpha 25]
or
"The 25th generation of the kadsiddha at siddhagiri had then initiated Guruling jangam maharaj of nimbargi."[lower-alpha 26]
or
"Juangam Maharaj" c.q. "a yogi [at Siddhagiri] who gave [Nimabargi Maharaj] a mantra and told him to meditate regularly on it"[lower-alpha 27]

1 Nimbargi Maharaj (1789–1875)
also known as Guru Lingam-Jangam Maharaj [lower-alpha 28][lower-alpha 29][lower-alpha 30]		 23rd Shri Samarth Muppin Kaadsiddheswar Maharaj
2 Shri Bhausaheb Maharaj Umdikar[lower-alpha 31][lower-alpha 32] (1843 Umdi – 1914 Inchgiri[lower-alpha 33]) 24th Shri Samarth Muppin Kaadsiddheswar Maharaj
3 H.H. Shri Amburao Maharaj of Jigjivani

(1857 Jigajevani – 1933 Inchgiri)[lower-alpha 34][lower-alpha 35]

 Shivalingavva Akka (1867–1930)[lower-alpha 36] Girimalleshwar Maharaj[lower-alpha 37][lower-alpha 38] Sri Siddharameshwar Maharaj (1875–1936)[lower-alpha 39][lower-alpha 40] 25th Shri Samarth Muppin Kaadsiddheswar Maharaj
4 H.H. Shri Gurudev Ranade of Nimbal (1886–1957)[lower-alpha 41][lower-alpha 42][lower-alpha 43][lower-alpha 44][lower-alpha 45] Balkrishna Maharaj[lower-alpha 46] Shri Aujekar Laxman Maharaj[lower-alpha 47] Madhavananda Prabhuji
(d. 25th May, 1980)[lower-alpha 48]		 Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj (1897–1981)[lower-alpha 49] 26th Shri Muppin Kaadsiddheshwar Maharaj (1905–2001)

Student of Sri Siddharameshwar Maharaj[lower-alpha 55]

5 H.H Shri Gurudev Chandra Bhanu Pathak[lower-alpha 56] Bhausaheb Maharaj (Nandeshwar)[lower-alpha 57] Shri Nagnath Alli Maharaj[lower-alpha 58] 27th head: H.H. Adrushya Kadsiddheshwar Swamiji[lower-alpha 76] H. H. Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Shree Swami Narendracharyaji Maharaj[lower-alpha 77]

See also

Notes
  1. The terms appear in the Varaha Upanishad, Chapter IV: "34. (The Rishi) Suka is a Mukta (emancipated person). (The Rishi) Vamadeva is a Mukta. There are no others (who have attained emancipation) than through these (viz., the two paths of these two Rishis). Those brave men who follow the path of Suka in this world become Sadyo-Muktas (viz., emancipated) immediately after (the body wear away);
    35. While those who always follow the path of Vamadeva (i.e., Vedanta) in this world are subject again and again to rebirths and attain Krama (gradual) emancipation, through Yoga, Sankhya and Karmas associated with Sattva (Guna).
    36. Thus there are two paths laid down by the Lord of Devas (viz.,) the Suka and Vamadeva paths. The Suka path is called the bird’s path; while the Vamadeva path is called the ant’s path."[web 4]

References
  1. Boucher & year unknown.
  2. Dabade 1998, p. 84.
  3. Bokil 1979, p. 18.
  4. Kher 1895, pp. 446–454.
  5. Kotnis 1963, p. 17.
  6. R.D. Ranade (1982), Mysticism In Maharashtra
  7. Ranjit Maharaj 1999.
  8. Frydman 1987.

Sources

Published sources

Web-sources
  1. Gurudev R.D. Ranade, Sadguru Shri Bhausaheb Maharaj Umdikar
  2. http://nondualite.free.fr, Shri Sadguru Siddharameshwar Maharaj
  3. "sadguru.us, The Bird's way". Archived from the original on 2015-03-30. Retrieved 2014-10-03.
  4. swamji.com, Seven Bhumikas
  5. Gurudev R.D. Ranade, Sadguru Shri Amburao Maharaj
  6. Gurudev R.D. Ranade, Shri Gurudev R. D. Ranade
  7. Bridge-India, Shri Gurudev R.D. Ranade

Further reading
Teachings
  • Samartha Ramdas (2010), Dasbodh - Spiritual Instruction for the Servant, Sadguru Publishing
  • Deshpande, Manohar Srinivas (1978), Sri Bhausaheb Maharaj: Life-sketch and Nama-yoga, Academy of Comparative Philosophy and Religion
Background
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