Gajanan Maharaj Temples
The Gajanan Maharaj Temples were built to honor Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj, an Indian holy man well-known in Maharashtra, India. Maharaj lived during the late 19th century and early 20th century, spending most of his life in Shegaon, where he achieved Samadhi on September 8, 1910. Although Shegaon has special significance for Maharaj and his devotees and hosts a magnificent temple, every Maharashtrian city houses a Gajanan Maharaj temple.[1]
Hindus consider Gajanan Maharaj a saint with miraculous powers. His origins are not known.
India
Shegaon
Shegaon gained a reputation as a holy place, after Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj lived there. Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj Temple is built at his place of Samadhi. Sant Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan is the largest temple trust in the Vidarbha region and is known as the "Pandharpur of Vidarbha". It attracts pilgrims from all over Maharashtra.
The Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan (Institution) Temple Trust coordinates the day-to-day affairs of the temple; it is headed by the Managing Trustees, who normally come from the Patil family. The Trust coordinates services in the spiritual, religious, medical and educational fields; most notably, it runs Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj College of Engineering, in the Vidarbha region.
Mumbai and surrounding areas
Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay) hosts multiple temples: Bandra East (Government Colony, near Y Quarters), Vile Parle East on Tejpal Scheme Road No. 3, Mahim Kapad Bazar, Goregaon West, Siddharth Nagar, Unnat Nagar, Borivali East, Ghatkopar, D. Y. Patil College in Nerul, Vashi and Dadar West. As of 2011, a new temple is under construction near Manor in Bhopoli.
There are two temples of Gajanan Maharaj in Thane. The first one is at Shivai Nagar, Thane West, Thane, Maharashtra 400606 The second one is at Kalaroksha H.S.C., Ram Maruti Rd, Thane West, Thane, Maharashtra 400602 Shri Vinay Joshi, a devotee of Maharaj, has devoted his own property for the temple. Vinay Joshi sculpted and painted the 2½-foot-tall plaster of Paris statue in "Kalpavruksha", his residence on Ram Maruti Road.
Another temple of Gajanan Maharaj is located at Titwala East in Maanda (which is also known for Maha Ganapati Mandir); it was established by the late Shri Gurunath Mhetre.
Temples are found in Dombivli, Palghar and Dahanu (outside Mumbai). Two temples are located at Parnaka and Manisha Nagar in Kalyan. A small temple is sited at Kanhor, Kulgaon, Badlapur on a hillock.
A temple is at Vasai too Chobare gaon, Papdi, Vasai west.
Pune
Several temples are found in and around Pune, at Tulsi Baug, Sahakar Nagar, on a private property in Wakad, in Old Sangavi, in Kothrud, in Nigdi-Pradhikaran and in Magzine Square, Bhosari.
Nagpur
The temple of Sant Gajanan Maharaj of Shegaon is organised by Yogiraj Gajanan Seva Pratisthan in Nagpur. Several other temples are dedicated to Gajanan Maharaj, including Reshim Baug (Varhadpande Kaka), Zenda Chowk Dharampeth (the oldest temple, after Shegaon), Lakdi Pool, Naik Road Zenda Chowk Mahal (Prati Shegaon) and Chikhali Layout.
Aurangabad
The Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj Temple was constructed at Aurangabad during 1989-1991.[2]
Indore
The temple of Sant Gajanan Maharaj of Indore is coordinated by Shri Sadguru Gajanan Maharaj Sevashram in Indore.
United States
Alpharetta, Georgia
Shri Gajanan Maharaj murti is at Hindu Temple of Metro Atlanta.
South Plainfield, New Jersey
Shri Gajanan Maharaj murthi sthapna was done at Shri Sai Datta Peetham in South Plainfield, New Jersey[3]
Dallas Area, Texas
Shri Gajanan Maharaj murthi sthapna was done at Kapardi Shirdi Sai Temple in Plano, Texas[3]
Houston, Texas
Shri Gajanan Maharaj murthi sthapna was done at Jalaram Saibaba Temple, in Houston, Texas[3]
Seattle Area, Washington
Shri Gajanan Maharaj murthi sthapna was done at Shri Sai Baba Temple in Redmond, Washington[3]
Los Angeles Area, California
Shri Gajanan Maharaj murthi sthapna was done at Sri Siva Kameswari Temple in Costa Mesa, California[3]
Sunnyvale, California
Shri Gajanan Maharaj[4] murti sthapana was done at Shiv Durga Temple[5] of Sunnyvale, California from 16 February 2017 to 18 February 2017.
References
- "Home". Shri Gajanan Seva Bay Area. Retrieved 2017-02-17.
- https://www.panoramio.com/photo/62136544
- "About Maharaj & Temples". GAJANAN MAHARAJ AMERICA DEVOTEES PARIVAR (A NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION). Retrieved 2019-09-16.
- "Home". Shri Gajanan Seva Bay Area. Retrieved 2017-02-17.
- "Shivdurgatemple". Shivdurgatemple. Retrieved 2017-02-17.
External links
- Temple of Sant Gajanan Maharaj of Shegaon (promoted by Yogiraj Gajanan Seva Pratisthan, Nagpur)
- Shree Gajanan Maharaj Mandir, Kanhor, Badlapur, Thane District (home page)
- Shree Gajanan Maharaj home page
- Shree Gajanan Maharaj home page
- Gajanan Shegaon
- Shree Gajanan Maharaj Temple Indore (home page)
- Shree Gajanan Maharaj America Devotee Parivar