Das Ganu Maharaj

Das Ganu maharaj, one of the close associates of Baba, was responsible for the spread of his name and fame in Maharashtra through his ballads and discourses. His full name is Ganpat Rao Dattatreya Sahasrabudhhe. He was a constable orderly attached to Chandorkar and had the opportunity to visit Shirdi with Chandorkar and meet Baba. Das Ganu had various experience with him. Narsimha Swamiji says that for a long though Ganu had high regard for Baba, he could not accept Baba as a God or a Guru. Baba brought about a great transformation of his mind although at first it was unwilling arrived in Shirdi in 1890 he had little education and was employed as an actor in village dramas in which he played the official ladder and became a sub-inspector in the police department. Baba, however, had other plans for him. He was determined that Ganu’s character, calling and work should be totally changed.

Baba wants Gunu to left his police service. But, Gunu avoid his decision. Baba gave him various experience and create difficult situation i.e. pariksha. After sometimes, Ganu obeyed Baba’s order.Baba thus achieved his aim of getting Ganu out of the police department which he thought stood in the way of Ganu’s spiritual progress. Ganu told Baba:”I have left government service and I and my wife have no stand in the street as we have no property or income.”

Baba said:”I shall provide for you and your family” and he did. In later years he became a rich man acquiring land and property and he was never in want.

Baba advised him to concentrate on his ballads and discourses. Ganu was good in singing kirtans. He had a metallic voice and held big audiences spellbound with his singing which sometimes went on for eight hours. As he sang and spoke Gunu would keep a picture of Baba by his side and even though his discourse might be on a Tukaram, Namdev and Jyneshwar, he could find opportunity to mention Baba and hail him as a saint, or a Satpursha whose darshan would be a blessing to anyone who sought it. This resulted in hundreds of people rushing to Shirdi to receive Baba’s blessings.

Baba gave them a mantra of “Vishnu Saharsranama” and “Sri Rama, Jaya Rama, Jaya Jaya Ram”.Due to this mantra people get wealth, power, fame, glory and success if he is without these.Das Ganu wrote various Grantha which is famous like Amritanubhava, Upanishad (Marathi translated), Santakathamritha (1903), Lilamritha (1906) and last book was Bakthi Saramritha (1925).

Das is not only a good singer skill but also a great writer. This is possible only because of Sai Baba.

Das Ganu spread his Sai Leela thourgh kirtans and his poetry work. And people always remember him for his nobal cause.