Shri Dadaji Dhuniwaley

Shri Dadaji Dhuniwaley

Shri Dadaji Dhuniwaley (Shri Keshavanandji Maharaj) is one of the greatest saints of India. Also known as Shri Dadaji Dandeywaley, he roamed all over India and in particular the central part of India in the 19th and 20th centuries. His lakhs of devotees all over the world strongly believe him to be an incarnation of Lord Shiva. Many devotees, who had the honour of serving him would tell others of having seeing Shri Dadaji in all his might and glory as Lord Shiva! Even today, the descendants of these devotees passionately recall these sightings made by their grandparents.

In the 18th century, a ‘jamaat of sadhus’ (group of holy men) led by Shri Gauri Shankerji Maharaj used to do 'parikrama' (circumambulate) of the river Narmada. They would walk the entire length of the river, on both its banks without crossing it anywhere in between. Shri Gauri Shankerji Maharaj did ‘tapasya’ (austerity) and prayed to ‘Maa’ (Mother) Narmada that he be given ‘darshan’ of (appearance by) his 'pita ji' (father, Lord Shiva). When he finished 12 such ‘parikramas’ ‘Maa’ Narmada appeared to him and told him that the teenaged ‘sanyasi’ in his ‘jamaat’, Keshav (Dadaji Maharaj), is Lord Shiva himself! With his lifelong desire about to come true, Gauri Shanker ji went to see Dadaji Maharaj and he indeed saw him as Lord Shiva. When he could not believe his eyes, Lord Shiva asked Gauri Shanker ji to touch him and believe it for himself.

Dadaji Maharaj always carried with him a ‘danda’ (stick). Wherever he went, he would light his ‘dhuni’ (holy fire) and sit next to it. Everywhere, people would flock in their thousands to seek blessings from this saint, who would always be in ‘digambar roop’ (without clothes). Within no time a large congregation of people started to follow him everywhere he went.

Dadaji maharaj had a very peculiar way of doing ‘jan kalyan’ (people were relieved of their troubles and had their wishes fulfilled). He would abuse people and hit them with his stick. Although everyone wished for it, only the lucky ones would have the honour of being abused or hit by him. People from all walks of life would come to seek his blessings. He performed countless miracles - childless couples being blessed with a child, favourable verdicts for people fighting legal cases in the courts, sick child getting miraculously healed after being thrown in the ‘dhuni’ by him! etc.

Dadaji took ‘mahasamadhi’ (soul leaving the body) in December, 1930. He was succeeded by  Shri Chottey Dadaji Maharaj (Shri Harihar Bholey Bhagwan)

If your plan is for 1 year, plant rice.

If your plan is for 10 years,  plant trees.

If your plan is for 100 years, educate children.

                                                                   - Confucius.