Shri Moraya Gosavi

Shri Moraya Gosavi

There is a village called Shali in Bidar district, in Karnataka. There lived a couple named Vamanbhat Shaligram and his wife Parvati Bai. Vamanbhat was a Deshastha Rigvedi Brahmin of Haritasa gotra, well versed in Vedas; he was a staunch follower of Grihastharshrama. He was depressed for being childless even after spending half of his life and therefore left his house. He along with his wife reached Morgaon. Both were contended to see Lord Moraya on Karhe pathar. They felt as if their wish would be fulfilled and hence started an arduous penance for a child. Finally Lord Moraya was pleased and they were blessed with an immortal baby boy, who was named Moraya. The upanayana samskara was performed to him when he was 8 yrs old, and there on he started to acquire his education, vedadhyayana. Young Moraya was yearning to see Lord Chintamani,when he met his guru Nayanbharati Gosavi. Under his guidenace, Moraya started a rigorous penance to please Chintamani on the banks of river Mula Mutha, in the forest of Theur.

Following a tough anusthana (penance) of 42 days Lord Chintamani appeared and Moraya was transformed to Gosavi. ‘Go’ means senses, which were under his control. His mind was absorbed in Moraya. After attaining the asta siddis (8 super natural powers) Shri Gosavi went to Morgaon. He used his siddhis to heal the sufferings of the poor and needy. According to the saying “Bahut Janasi Adhaaru” – ‘Helping Many People’ he strived to help the needy. And people started surrendering at his lotus feet. He was praised all over. The crowd hindered his penance; one day suddenly Shri Moraya Gosavi left Morgaon and started meditating in the forest of Kivjaee in Chinchwad. But destiny had other plans. The residents of Chinchwad took him to their place. They built a hut for him, which is now a manor.

Shri Gosavi started serving people from this place. He would leave Chinchwad on the first day of every month (pratipada) and reach Morgaon on foot. On the fourth day he would worship Lord Moraya and return to Chinchwad on the fifth day. Once there was a heavy flood in Karhe pathar. The water had a great speed. Lord Moraya , under the guise of a fisherman’s boy helped Gosavi to cross the Karhe. In yet another situation, Moraya Gosavi was late. The priests closed the temple and left. Moraya desperately yearned to see Lord Moraya. At this moment the Lord himself came out of the temple to give him darshan. His devotion towards the Lord Moraya was so great that once the locks of the temple gates were automatically unlocked and he could worship.

Shri Moraya Gosavi gave great importance to Anna daan (serving food). Various activities like Annsatras (food courts),sadavarta, yatra (pilgrimages), festivals, worships etc increased and Chinchwad hustled. With the continues chants of ‘Mangala Murti Moraya’ and propagating the divine message of spirituality Moraya Gosavi took Samadhi on the sixth day of Margashirsha month (1516 AD). The bank of Pavana was purified. People flocked in Chinchwad for reverence.

Sanjeevan Samadhi (highest transcendent state of consciousness) of Shri Moraya Gosavi:

Around that period, the greatness of Moraya Gosavi spread widely. Many people came for his darshan. He was continually disturbed by this. Therefore he decided to resolve this problem by invocating the Lord. Lord Mayureshwara appeared and asked “What do you wish?” Moraya Gosavi said, “Mayureshwara I wish to take Samadhi so that I can attain advaita (oneness) with you. Mayureshwara replied “Child, we are not different identities. We are one. I will stay in your heart forever. Go ahead; everything will happen according to your wish.”

For many years Gosavi lived in the state of trance. He would often dwell in Atmananda (rejoicing in the soul). He decided to take Samadhi with satiety and contentment. He expressed his desire to his son Chintamani. Chintamani was initially pained at this decision but as per his father’s wish, he began to make preparations. He built a cave on the banks of Pavana river.

On the auspicious 6th day of Margashirisha month (Shali yr1483) in the year 1561, Shri Moraya Gosavi started from his house. He performed worship in the temple. He was accompanied by his son Chintamani, daughters- in law and grand children. The villagers waited for him on the bank. The chants of Moraya were heard everywhere. Moraya bathed in the holy river, worshipped, draped holy clothes and alighted into the cave. The cave was built in stone. In the middle of the cave there was a stone bench, there was bench in front of it. The holy Ganeshpurana was on it, there were two oil lamps. Shri Moraya Gosavi sat upon the stone bench. Chintamani Maharaj garlanded him. His daughters-in-law offered aarti. Everybody took his blessings. Shri Gosavi, progressively attained Samadhi. His focus concentrated in the centre of the brows. His body became stiff. His prana accumulated in the brahmarandhra. His mind got absorbed in the atmananda.

Chintamani Maharaj came out of the cave. The placed a large stone in front of the cave. Later he installed an idol of Shri Ganesha along with Siddi and Buddhi on the Samadhi. The way towards the cave was blocked by a large salunka of Lord Arjuneshwara. This Samadhi is a live one. Many people experience the presence of Shri Moraya there.