The great Saint of Maharashtra - Sant Eknath Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Eknath Maharaj!

Chapter – 2

During those days Janardan Swami was working as an accountant in a fortress, he gets one day off from the work in a week, on that day he conducts elaborate worship of Lord Daththathreya.  Eknath spend nearly six years at the service of his preceptor, his routines were bringing water from the pond, give bath to his Guru, feeding him and give massage to his feet was the duties of Eknath.  He was a sincere attendant to his preceptor; Swami Janardan was highly pleased with the sincerity and selfless service of Eknath, eventually  he was assigned with the work of Accountant in the fortress.

Once Eknath was stressed out at the work, some of the records and its calculations were missing, the whole night he spent in finding the right calculations recollected the error and found the right answer, he started clapping hands in great enthusiasm.   Janardan Swami got out of the sleep and looked at Eknath, he asked the reason for his excitement, Eknath explained the reason for it.   Swami was so pleased with his sincerity at work, though it was too little amount went missing from the calculation.  Janardan Swamiji said " Eknath, if you conduct the search for truth with dedication and faith, one day you will achieve the same.  The Supreme Lord is omnipresent, he resides as soul in living beings, he is the form of preceptor, he resides in the home of pious and righteous people, he is the creator, and preserver of the Universe, he  causes deluge at the end of Yuga and absorbs all the living and non-livings created by him.  He is absolute truth attainable to worshiper who conducts a rigorous search for it.” These words echoed in the mind of Eknath, it kindled the fire of spirituality in him. 

The great Saint of Maharashtra - Sant Eknath Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Eknath Maharaj!

Chapter – 1

Eknath  Maharaj was a well known Marathi Saint, scholar, and religious poet of Varkari Sampradaya.  He was lived during the period of  1533 -1599.  He was born in a Maratha Rigvedi Bhramin family; his parents Suryanarayana and Rukmini were passed away in the early years of his childhood.  Those days it was believed that a child born with birth star Moolam causes the death of parents.   He was taken care of by his grandparents Chakrapani and Saraswathibayi.  His grandfather Chakrapani was also a Sant of Varkari Sampradaya, all the members in this family were great scholars and intellectuals. Undoubtedly all those virtues were inherited in Eknath as well.  He has lots of interest in listening to the stories from scriptures, worship of deities, visiting shrines, and performing Namasankeerthana.  He was a studious child, learned scriptures, Veda, Vedanta at a young age. 

 Eknath was twelve years old, he visited the nearby shrine of Lord Shiva, there he could listen to a divine voice commanding him to go to Devgad/Devagiri where he could meet his preceptor Janardan Swamiji and attained Deeksha.  One day he left to Devgad after listening to this divine voice, he traveled by foot from Pandarpur to Devgad which is located more than three hundred miles from his native village Paitan.  In Devgad he met Janardan Swamiji and prostrated before him, and revealed his purpose of visit.  Swami Janardan was extremely happy to hear from Eknath and accepted Eknath as one of the disciples.   He learned Vedanta, Nyaya, Mimamsa, Yoga, etc.. from Swami Janardan.  

Swami Adhbhudhanandha  - Sri Latu Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Latu Maharaj!

Chapter – 23

In the year 1868 Swami Vijayanada from Argentina came to meet Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Ma Sharada.   He recorded all that conversation between Thakurji and Latu Maharaj in a tape recorder he was carrying; he went to meet Latu Maharaj.  Latu Maharaj  addressed his family name and asked “ Hey, Pashupati, did you bathe in Ganga?’ Swami Vijayananda said, “ Oh, No Swamiji, the waters of Ganga has become too polluted, so did not take bath in Ganga.” Maharaj said “ Oh! you will take a bath in the hospital sterile water, right.” Maharaj continued “ did you visit Lord Vishwanatha?” Latu Maharaj shouted at him.  One afternoon Swami Vijayananda, Mukundananda, and another Swamiji, three of them went to Ashwamedha Ghat, they were watching the sunset.  All of a sudden Swamiji Vijayananda saw mist rising from the waters of Ganges and took the form of Lord Shiva, he could not control his sudden rise of emotions after witnessing this incident.  Those days Latu Maharaj was living out of the Ashram, Swami Vijayananda before leaving went to meet Latu Maharaj, as soon as he entered the chamber, Latu Maharaj said “ Hey, Pashupati, what did you see on the waters of Ganga?” he fallen at the feet of Latu Maharaj and said “ It is all your grace.” Maharaj said “  It is not my grace, it is the grace of Lord Vishwanatha upon you. At least before leaving go and have Dharshan of Lord Vishwanatha. If you have done that, go to Ganga and take a holy dip.”

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa used to say that Latu Maharaj is the greatest miracle. He was one of the favorite disciples of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa,   though Maharaj had no basic education, he has attained highest of the spiritual state with the touch of his Master along with the constant meditation and perseverance, he had attained Mahasamadhi on  24^th April 1920.

Swami Adhbhudhanandha  - Sri Latu Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Latu Maharaj!

Chapter – 22

Once Latu Maharaj received a letter from a devotee in Bengal, in that “Maharaj, I have a long desire to visit Kashi and attain the Dharshan of Lord Vishwanatha, I do not have money to spend on the trip,” Latu Maharaj advised “ Somehow make arrangement of the money for the trip, other things will be taken care of,” The devotee arrived in Kashi, after having Dharshan of Lord Vishwanatha he became distressed to see that everyone offering various valuable things to Lord, he has nothing to offer other than a few bale leaves.  He felt pity of himself, for not having money for meeting basic needs, instead of sharing meals of a saint,  he returned from the shrine and started crying in his closed room.  Latu Maharaj came to know the distress of his devotee, he said: “Tomorrow after the holy dip, take waters from Ganga and offer to Lord Vishwanatha and pray to remove all the sufferings of the Universe.” The devotee thought it is just Maharaj wanted to pacify him.   Anyway, it is the order of Gurudev, so he decided to follow the instructions.  The next day he followed the instructions of Latu Maharaj, after the performance of the ritual he felt so serene and calm.   All those burdens from his shoulder have disappeared, he felt immensely blissful.

One day, a devotee was sleeping in the chamber of Latu Maharaj, that night he had nightmares, seeing the panicky state of the devotee, Latu Maharaj gave a push and said: “ You are thinking all those nasty things here,”.  One day a female had a conflict with her husband and arrived in Kashi, Latu Maharaj said “A married woman should sincerely follow the instructions of her husband, the woman who does not follow the righteousness would suffer from mental afflictions,” The woman was mystified to hear all these from Latu Maharaj,  she was surprised “how did Maharaj came to know about my family life? I did not even mention it to anyone.”   In this way, Latu Maharaj could read the grief of his devotees from their faces and advice them.  

Swami Adhbhudhanandha  - Sri Latu Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Latu Maharaj!

Chapter – 21

It was during Durga Puja, Ma Sharadha arrived in the Balram shrine, she came to meet her favorite son/disciple Latu Maharaj in his chamber, Latu Maharaj said “ Ma, why did you come here, you are from a superior clan, you could have sent somebody to call me,” Sri Sharada Ma was well aware of the humility of Latu, she laughed at him and went away.  Latu Maharaj whispered to himself in despair “ who is father and mother to a Sanyasin? A Sanyasin should not have any worldly bondage and illusion,” At that moment Sri Ma was coming down the stairs, she called “ Son, Latu, you need not consider me as your mother, I shall remain your mother always.” Latu Maharaj got cleared all his doubts instantly.  He cried and fallen at the feet of Ma, and Ma’s eyes were overflowing with tears.  Latu Maharaj wiped off her tears with his upper clothe and said: “ Ma, you are going to your father’s home, you should not cry.”  After few days Latu Maharaj thought of leaving to Kashi and spends some time, he came to Adhvaitha Ashram and stayed there for quite some time. 

Later he arrived in Pandey Bungalow and lived there for some time.  One day one of the young servants in the Bungalow approached Latu Maharaj and said: “ I am not in a position to spend money on my ill health, kindly bless me to get rid of this illness or die.” Latu Maharaj said “ Don’t worry, if Thakur's grace on you, there is no doubt you will be alright soon.  Today onwards, after having a dip in Ganga, go and visit Lord Vishwanatha shrine, consume the sacred water offered at his feet, you will be alright with the grace of Lord Vishwanatha.” After a few days, the youth has completely cured of the illness. 

Swami Adhbhudhanandha  - Sri Latu Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Latu Maharaj!

Chapter – 20

In the year 1897 Swami Vivekananda returned from America, all the disciples of Thakurji met him, but Latu Maharaj did not make it.  He thought ‘ I am just an ordinary person with no knowledge of reading or writing, he is returned from a foreign land, he had become reputed person now, did he recognize me?”  But Swami Vivekanand was remembered Latu Maharaj, he did not forget him.  One day Swami Vivekananda arrived to meet Latu Maharaj and embraced him and said “ Latu Bhai, I am your same old Naren. Come with me to Mutt.”  Latu Maharaj came to stay in Belur Mutt, but he was not finding peace here, there were strict disciplines were introduced; all the disciples should get up early in the morning at 3’ o clock.  One day, Latu Maharaj packed his bags and started leaving, Swami Vivekananda asked “ Where are you going? Why are you leaving?” Latu Maharaj said “ Kolkatta.  You have come from a foreign land, you are introducing new rules, I cannot follow them fully, I am not used to it.  I cannot make my mind force to contemplate upon the Lord at the sound of the bell.”  Swami Vivekanand said, “ Then leave”.  Later, Swami Vivekananda rushed to Latu Maharaj and said, “ You come with me, you need not follow any rules, these rules are for people who are newly arrived in the Mutt.”  None of the rules were applicable to Latu Maharaj, he felt awkward living in the Mutt without following its rules.  He was a righteous person, he equally respected all the religions and its festivities, he celebrates Eid, Christmas and all the Hindu festivals with an open heart.

Swami Adhbhudhanandha  - Sri Latu Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Latu Maharaj!

Chapter – 19

Days went on and on, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was diagnosed with throat cancer, he settled in Shyamapukur for treatment, during these days Latu was always with Thakurji. once Latu Maharaj went in a state of ecstasy, he turned to normalcy at the touch of Thakurji.  After living in Shyamapukur for some time, Thakurji was shifted to Kashipur.  One day he was massaging the head of Thakurji, soon he entered in a state of transcendental.  Once  Ma Sharadha/Sri Ma was visiting Vrindavan, she was followed by Latu Maharaj, he undertook Tapasya for few days and returned to Kolkata, and initiated to Sanyasashrama.

Latu Maharaj immersed in intense practice of meditation and Yoga after the demise of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa,  he did not sleep in the night, Swami Sharadanandji used to listen to unique noises from his chamber, he thought it must be the disturbances caused by rats and it continued for another few days.  One day Sharadanandji went to check and saw Latu Maharaj was performing meditation, it was the sounds of the prayer beads rolling between his fingers. During these days, Latu Maharaj goes to sleep immediately after meals, and within a few minutes, he will be in deep sleep and when everyone sleeps he gets up and performs meditation.

Latu Maharaj was not in the mutt or in the devotee’s house for a short period of time.  He settled on the river banks of Ganga and lived on alms, he gets clothing from the family of Ramchandra Dutt, and sometimes he eats Roti or dry channa.  He spends days listening and describing glorious myths of Lord, and singing Bhajans.   During harsh winter he will take a seat inside the empty trains.  


Once Latu Maharaj visited Puri Jagannath, he stood in front of the idol of Jagannatha and prayed “Prabho! Chaithanya Mahaprabhu’s eyes were soaked in tears seeing your glorious face, I yearn to see that face of yours, kindly show me that face.” Latu Maharaj had the same Dharshan of Lord Jagannath which was revealed to Sri Chaithanya Mahaprabhu.  Latu Maharaj appealed to Jagannatha “ I am not able to wander around like old times, I am tired now.” It was true that, If the food is not consumed in the right manner or it is not cooked in a proper manner, it will definitely affect the health of the individual, if the health is not good, nothing can be performed.