Bhaktaraj Maharaj
Encyclopedia
Bhaktarāj Maharaj of Indore
, Madhya Pradesh
, India
was a Hindu
saint in the tradition of Bhakti
. He spread the message of Bhakti through his Bhajan
s (devotional songs) and by remembering the name of Almighty or Guru (Naamsmaran). He was a devotee of Sai Baba of Shirdi
who came to him in the name and form of Anantananda Saish.
The name Bhaktarāj means King amongst the Devotees. This name was conferred on him by his Sadguru.
or Sadguru himself, sacrifice, unconditional love for others".
Many of his teachings were compiled by Jayant Bālājī Athavale and Kunda Jayant Āthavale in their book "The Teachings of Saint Bhaktarāj".
in Madhya Pradesh
and two more in Maharashtra
.
was founded in 1990 by Jayant Balaji Athavale with the blessings of Bhaktaraj Maharaj, based on scientific outlook on spirituality. The main aim as stated by the organization is to present spirituality in a scientific language for the curious (jidnyasu) and to guide seekers. Without citing when or where, Sanatan's website attributes to Bhaktaraj Maharaj the quote: "Until now, I only showered love upon others. However now, the mission of propagating Spirituality and undertaking spiritual practice has to be performed to make them prevalent in society as in the past."
Indore
Indore is one of the major city in India, the largest city and commercial center of the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. Indore is located 190 km west of the state capital Bhopal. According to the 2011 Indian census, Indore city has a population of 1,960,631...
, Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
was a Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
saint in the tradition of Bhakti
Bhakti
In Hinduism Bhakti is religious devotion in the form of active involvement of a devotee in worship of the divine.Within monotheistic Hinduism, it is the love felt by the worshipper towards the personal God, a concept expressed in Hindu theology as Svayam Bhagavan.Bhakti can be used of either...
. He spread the message of Bhakti through his Bhajan
Bhajan
A Bhajan is any type of Indian devotional song. It has no fixed form: it may be as simple as a mantra or kirtan or as sophisticated as the dhrupad or kriti with music based on classical ragas and talas. It is normally lyrical, expressing love for the Divine...
s (devotional songs) and by remembering the name of Almighty or Guru (Naamsmaran). He was a devotee of Sai Baba of Shirdi
Sai Baba of Shirdi
Sai Baba of Shirdi , also known as Shirdi Sai Baba , was an Indian guru, yogi, and fakir who is regarded by his Hindu and Muslim devotees as a saint....
who came to him in the name and form of Anantananda Saish.
The name Bhaktarāj means King amongst the Devotees. This name was conferred on him by his Sadguru.
Teachings
The main essence of his teaching was to "Experience bliss through the spiritual practice of chanting the name of God, singing holy songs, service by seeing all in form of GodGod
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
or Sadguru himself, sacrifice, unconditional love for others".
Many of his teachings were compiled by Jayant Bālājī Athavale and Kunda Jayant Āthavale in their book "The Teachings of Saint Bhaktarāj".
Characteristics
Apart from his loving nature, his main and striking characteristics can be succinctly summed up as:- Devotion to Guru (gurubhaktiBhaktiIn Hinduism Bhakti is religious devotion in the form of active involvement of a devotee in worship of the divine.Within monotheistic Hinduism, it is the love felt by the worshipper towards the personal God, a concept expressed in Hindu theology as Svayam Bhagavan.Bhakti can be used of either...
) - Singing of holy songs (bhajanBhajanA Bhajan is any type of Indian devotional song. It has no fixed form: it may be as simple as a mantra or kirtan or as sophisticated as the dhrupad or kriti with music based on classical ragas and talas. It is normally lyrical, expressing love for the Divine...
s) - Feasting (bhandaara)
- Travel (bhraman)
Ashrams
The official trust of Bhaktaraj Maharaj runs two ashramAshram
Traditionally, an ashram is a spiritual hermitage. Additionally, today the term ashram often denotes a locus of Indian cultural activity such as yoga, music study or religious instruction, the moral equivalent of a studio or dojo....
in Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
and two more in Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
.
- Bhaktvatsalya Ashram, IndoreIndoreIndore is one of the major city in India, the largest city and commercial center of the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. Indore is located 190 km west of the state capital Bhopal. According to the 2011 Indian census, Indore city has a population of 1,960,631...
, Madhya Pradesh - Sadguru Seva Sadan, Mortakka, Khandwa DistrictKhandwa DistrictKhandwa District , formerly known as East Nimar District, is a district of Madhya Pradesh state in central India. The city of Khandwa is the administrative headquarters of the district.-Geography:...
, Madhya Pradesh - Shri Bhaktaraj Maharaj Samadhi Mandir, KandaliKandaliKandali may refer to:*Madhava Kandali, a 14th century Assamese poet*Kandali Festival, a festival held by the Bhotiya tribe of the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand state in India...
, Pune DistrictPune DistrictPune District is situated in Maharashtra state of India. Pune city is the district headquarters. In the last census on 2001, the total population of the district was 7,232,555, making it the fourth most populous district in India . Urban population comprises 58.08% of the total population...
, Maharashtra - Morchundi Ashram, Morchundi, Thane DistrictThane DistrictThane is a district in northern Maharashtra state in western India. As of 2011 it is the most populated district in the nation. The headquarters of the district is the city of Thane. Other major cities in the district are Navi Mumbai , Kalyan-Dombivli, Mira-Bhayander, Bhiwandi, Ulhasnagar,...
, Maharashtra
Homage by other saints
The official website of the Bhaktaraj Maharaj Trust claims that many saints gave homage to him:- "A saint of the highest spiritual level" - Anna Karandikar, DahanuDahanuDahanu is a coastal city and a municipal council in Thane district in the western state of Maharashtra, India.-The Town:The name "Dahanu Gaon" originates from the word "Dhenu Gram" meaning the village of cows. A lot of cattle, particularly cows were owned by the people in Dahanu. Today, Dahanu...
. - "He is the limit of spiritual progress" - Kane Maharaj, Kolhapur
- "Bhaktaraj Maharaj's Ashram is a spiritual heaven" - Mounibaba, NarayangaonNarayangaonNarayangaon ,is a town in the Pune district of Maharashtra state, India.Narayangaon is one of the important towns in Junnar Taluka , popular for its natural beauty...
. - "He is Rooh" (pure spirit) - M.Bapu, PalejPalejPalej is a census town in the Bharuch district, Gujarat, India. Cotton is a major product of the industrial area surrounding the town. Palej supports the daily needs of many small nearby villages. A railway and a national highway run through Palej....
- "He is among the only three saints in this world who are in physical body now and beyond the level of money." - Master E K
Homage by devotees
- Sharon Clarke Sequeria, Miss India First Runner Up 1985 and a former model says, her most cherished spiritual milestone occurred in 1994, while attending Guru Purnima function of Bhaktaraj Maharaj in DhuleDhuleDhule is a city and a Municipal Corporation in Dhule district in northwestern part of Maharashtra state, India. It is one of the very few well-planned cities of India before Indian Independence.-Geography:Dhule is located at...
, MaharashtraMaharashtraMaharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
. She recalls the guru darting a look at her akin to the look of God, "brighter than a thousand suns". "I knew then that I would be dancing only to God's tune and not that of others”.
Sanatan Sanstha and Bhaktaraj Maharaj
The Sanatan SansthaSanatan Sanstha
The Sanatan Sanstha is a non-profit organization registered in India. It was founded in 1990 by Jayant Balaji Athavale with the blessings of Bhaktaraj Maharaj and is based on the study of spirituality. as a science. The stated main aim of the organization is to present spirituality in a scientific...
was founded in 1990 by Jayant Balaji Athavale with the blessings of Bhaktaraj Maharaj, based on scientific outlook on spirituality. The main aim as stated by the organization is to present spirituality in a scientific language for the curious (jidnyasu) and to guide seekers. Without citing when or where, Sanatan's website attributes to Bhaktaraj Maharaj the quote: "Until now, I only showered love upon others. However now, the mission of propagating Spirituality and undertaking spiritual practice has to be performed to make them prevalent in society as in the past."
External links
- "H. H. Bhaktaraj Maharaj – A glimpse of divinity" (Official site of Shri Bhaktaraj Maharaj)
- "Our Sadguru : H. H. Bhaktaraj Maharaj" (Official site of Sanatan Society for Scientific Spiritualism)
- Catalogued works Library of CongressLibrary of CongressThe Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
- "Many of his teachings were compiled by Jayant Bālājī Athavale and Kunda Jayant Āthavale in their book" (The Teachings of Saint Bhaktarāj)
See also
- "Baba at a Glance": (video) Showing Bhaktaraj Maharaj at a glance
- "Showers of Piousness in Vizag": (video) Showing Bhaktaraj Maharaj's relation with Vishakhapattanam/Vizag