Bhausaheb Maharaj


Bhausaheb Maharaj was the founder of the Inchegeri Sampradaya, to which the well-known Indian guru Nisargadatta Maharaj belongs.

Biography

Background

Bhausaheb Maharaj was born in 1843 as Venkatesh Kanderao Deshpande. Bhausaheb Maharaj belonged to the Deshastha Brahmin caste, 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. Dnyaneshwar was universally acclaimed for his commentary on the Bhagvad Gita. 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. Samarth Ramdas, who was also the spiritual adviser to Shivaji, wrote the Dasbodh.

Spiritual life

According to Kotnis, Bhausaheb Maharj was looked upon as the reincarnation of Sant Tukaram, 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. He met his guru Sri Nimbargi at the age of fourteen. At the request of Nimbargi, Bhausaheb Maharaj Deshpande received mantra initiation from Shri Raghunathpriya Sadhu Maharaj, who was an ardent follower and a devoted disciple of Shri Gurulingajangam Maharaj. Bhausaheb Maharaj became a disciple of Nimbargi Maharaj.

Teachings

The Ant's Way

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

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. The editors wrote:

Lineage

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